Both Sweden and Finland have abandoned decades of military non-alignment to join the NATO military alliance since Russia's extraordinary military campaign in Ukraine.

Swedish Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin presents a new edition of the book "If Crisis or War Comes" in Stockholm, Sweden, October 8. (Source: AP)

Instructions for preparation

Since the conflict broke out, Stockholm has repeatedly called on Swedes to prepare both mentally and logistically for the possibility of war, citing the dire security situation in the surrounding area.

The booklet “If Crisis or War Comes” sent by the Swedish Civil Defence Agency (MSB) contains information on how to prepare for emergencies such as war, natural disasters or cyber attacks.

This is an updated version of a leaflet that Sweden has issued five times since World War II.

The previous version sent in 2018 attracted attention because it was the first time it had been sent to Sweden since 1961 – the height of the Cold War.

“The security situation is dire and we all need to strengthen our resilience to face various crises and ultimately war,” MSB director Mikael Frisell said in a statement.

The 32-page document outlines in simple illustrations the threats facing the Nordic country, including military conflict, natural disasters, cyber attacks and terrorism.

This resource includes preparation tips, such as stocking up on non-perishable foods and water.

People march through the streets during a pro-Ukraine protest, November 17. (Source: AFP)

Millions of flyers delivered to homes

MSB said the 2024 update focuses heavily on war preparations.

Over the next two weeks, 5.2 million copies will be sent to Swedish households.

The flyer is available in print in both Swedish and English, and a digital version is available in several other languages ​​— including Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian, Polish, Somali, and Finnish.

In January, former Swedish army chief Micael Byden alarmed many of his countrymen by calling on them to reconsider their own preparations.

“Swedes must prepare themselves for war,” he said.

Also on November 18, the government of Finland, which shares a 1,340-km border with Russia, launched a website to collect information on preparations for various crises.