Finland has conducted the first explosion resistance tests on civil defense shelters in over 30 years, to check if they can withstand the threats posed by modern warfare. Finland shares a land border of 1,340 kilometers with Russia and has stepped up its security preparations since Moscow launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reports TVPWorld.
The exercises took place around the city of Rovaniemi, located in the far north of Finland, approximately 100 kilometers from the border with Russia and 150 kilometers from the Arctic Circle.
“The purpose of the event was the development of the Finnish civil defense shelter system, capitalizing on the lessons learned from the Ukraine experience, and strengthening international cooperation in the field of civil defense,” the ministry stated in an online statement.
The Ministry of the Interior of Finland and the Finnish Defense Forces have organized the tests, which were attended by civil defense experts from Finland, Ukraine, and several other European countries. The last similar explosion resistance tests took place in Finland in 1992.
“Explosive tests provide the assurance that Finland’s civil protection solutions are effective even in the face of modern warfare threats,” he continued.
Finland has a land border of 1,340 kilometers with Russia and has intensified its security measures since Moscow launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Subsequently, in 2023, it joined NATO, ending decades of military non-alignment.
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