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Norway, Finland, and Poland Train Civilians for Possible War With Russia
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Norway, Finland, and Poland are expanding military training programs for reservists and everyday citizens in response to threat vectors stemming from Russia.
According to an analysis by Bild covering civil defense initiatives across the three nations, these preparedness programs combine mandatory reservist drills, public civilian training, and emergency response operations.
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Norway designated 2026 as the year of “total defense,” establishing a broad framework that integrates military forces, government agencies, private businesses, and citizens into national protection plans.
Public backing for mandatory military service in Norway stands at 85%. The Norwegian Home Guard, or Heimevernet, maintains over 40,000 reservists alongside a active military force of about 23,000 active-duty troops.
These reservists come from civilian occupations and participate in mandatory annual military exercises, including a large-scale drill held in Oslo in September involving 5,000 personnel. Norway also operates 19,000 bomb shelters capable of sheltering over half of its 5.5 million residents, Bild reported.
In Finland, approximately 45,000 reservists undergo tactical training each year, focusing on urban combat techniques, drone operations, and field medical assistance.
Voluntary defense initiatives provide civil protection training for the general population, with a recent exercise engaging over 2,000 participants in crisis response scenarios covering power grid blackouts, cyberattacks, and missile threats.
Finland maintains around 50,500 shelters designed to hold 4.8 million people. During peacetime, these spaces double as underground sports facilities or parking garages, but authorities can fully transition them into operational emergency shelters within 72 hours.
Poland is expanding civilian engagement through its “wGotowości” (“In Readiness”) initiative, offering voluntary weekend workshops on basic military skills and emergency evacuation procedures, according to Bild.
Over 18,000 people registered during the initial launch weeks. In parallel, Polish military forces conduct the “Trenuj z wojskiem” (“Train with the Army”) program, instructing civilians in basic weapons handling and training grenade use, leading several cities to establish waiting lists due to high demand.
Defense education is also integrated into Polish schools, where students learn first aid and survival strategies, while 14-year-olds receive practical marksmanship training.
Poland had previously simplified its military procedures for identifying and shooting down foreign objects entering national airspace.
The new rules allow Polish forces to act on radar, surveillance, and Ukrainian data without first requiring visual confirmation, giving air defenses more time to respond during Russian drone and missile attacks near the border.
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