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Sweden on Monday began sending some five million leaflets to its residents urging them to prepare for the possibility of war, while neighboring Finland launched a new preparedness website.

Sweden and Finland abandoned decades of military non-alignment to join the US-led military alliance NATO following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since the start of the war, Stockholm has repeatedly urged Swedes to prepare mentally and logistically for the possibility of war, citing the serious security situation in its surroundings.

The brochure “In Case of Crisis or War”, sent by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), contains information on how to prepare for emergency situations such as war, natural disasters or cyberattacks.

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

The previous version sent in 2018 made headlines because it was the first time it had been sent to the Swedes since 1961, at the height of the Cold War.

“The security situation is serious 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 describes with simple illustrations the threats facing the Nordic nation, including military conflicts, natural disasters and cyber and terrorist attacks.

It includes preparation tips, like stocking up on non-perishable foods and storing water.

MSB said the updated 2024 version focused more on war preparedness.

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

The brochure is available in print in Swedish and English and digital versions are available in several other languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian, Polish, Somali and Finnish.

Former Swedish army chief Micael Biden alarmed many of his compatriots in January when he urged them to think about their own preparedness.

“The Swedes must mentally prepare for war,” he said.

Also on Monday, the government of Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, launched a website compiling information on preparedness for different crises.

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