A mass evacuation exercise involving 300 volunteers will be conducted on Gotland, with a focus on improving Sweden's civil preparedness in the context of increased threats following Russia's war in Ukraine.
This autumn, Gotland's County Administrative Board is set to perform a mass evacuation drill involving 300 participants, as reported by Sveriges Radio. Such exercises had been a regular occurrence during the Cold War, with the largest one held in Stockholm in 1961, where up to 30,000 people participated. However, according to Henrik Larsson, the acting head of the Population Protection Department at the Civil Defense Agency, these exercises have not paused and have continued every two years around Sweden's nuclear power plants.
The renewed focus on civil preparedness has emerged in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting Swedish authorities to reassess and bolster their readiness for potential conflicts. Officials are analyzing how a war could impact Sweden and are working on developing legislation to enhance civil defense protocols. This includes mapping out existing resources to accommodate large numbers of evacuees; for instance, the Civil Defense Agency plans to expand its powers this summer to direct regional authorities to make room for displaced individuals.
The preparations suggest a significant change in Sweden's defense strategy, emphasizing proactive measures to ensure that the country is better equipped to handle a potential influx of evacuees. By organizing such large-scale drills, Sweden aims to enhance its resilience and respond more effectively to crises, ensuring that the population is protected in the event of a military conflict or other emergencies.
