In Lapland, Rovaniemi, the Finnish authorities carried out explosive tests and controlled explosions to check the resilience of shelters to the population. The last time specified an effort was carried out in Finland in 1992, the Ministry of the Interior reported.
"Explosive tests supply assurance that Finnish civilian protection solutions besides work in the face of threats to the modern war", the Ministry's Communication stressed.
Experts from another European countries besides observed the tests, carried out together with the military. Finland and Ukraine lead an global civilian protection coalition founded on the initiative of Helsinki and Kiev in 2025. Its aim is to support Ukraine in the improvement of the civilian protection system.
The civilian protection strategy in Finland is considered 1 of the most developed and exemplary models in the world. Built for decades, it is based on the experiences of the winter war society from the USSR (1939-1940) and then the Cold War period.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs in Finland (inhabited by just over 5.5 million people) there are about 50.5 1000 shelters with a capacity of about 4.8 million inhabitants. The first existing shelters were built in the 1930s. These, built according to modern standards, i.e. with ventilation, protection against gases or radioactive substances, began to be built in the 1970s.
A national shelter control action carried out in 2022 (due to Russia's attack on Ukraine) revealed that more than 90% of shelters would supply "good protection" for residents in the event of rocket or artillery attacks. besides more than 80% of specified facilities would defend the population in case of gas or radiation attacks.
In addition to conventional shelters located in residential blocks, in schools, hospitals, buying centers or office buildings, underground car parks or sports halls service as shelters. The shelters are mainly located in cities. In sparsely populated areas, agrarian areas and areas with single-family houses, specified facilities do not be almost at all.
APW, PAP
