Kuopio: More than 2,000 people have taken part in a major civil defence exercise in the Finnish city of Kuopio, testing how authorities and civilians would respond if critical services were disrupted during a serious emergency.
The Shelter 2026 exercise is being held on September 2 and 3 inside the Savilahti Luola, an underground facility known as the Cave. The facility normally operates as a sports and events centre but can be used as a civil defence shelter for about 7,000 people.
The exercise is testing how authorities, businesses, schools, voluntary organisations and other groups would work together if normal services were disrupted.
The planned scenarios include cyberattacks affecting power and water supplies, disruption to critical infrastructure and a possible missile threat. The exercise also covers radiation and hazardous material preparedness.
The exercise is not being held because of an actual attack or an immediate emergency. It was planned as a preparedness exercise to improve cooperation, decision making, communication and the operation of civil defence facilities.
The City of Kuopio has described the exercise as exceptionally large and the largest exercise of its kind in Finland in decades.
The underground facility is a central part of the training. Participants are testing how it could be operated if large numbers of people needed protection during an emergency. The exercise is also examining how different organisations would maintain essential services and support people in difficult conditions.
Finland has maintained an extensive civil defence system for decades. The country has tens of thousands of civil defence shelters, many of which have other uses during normal times. Some underground facilities can be converted for emergency use when necessary.
Finland's security concerns have increased since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland shares a border of about 1,300 kilometres with Russia.
Finland joined NATO on April 4, 2023, ending decades of military non alignment. Sweden later joined the alliance on March 7, 2024.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland has also placed greater attention on cyberattacks, disruption of critical infrastructure, satellite navigation interference and other forms of hybrid activity.
Juha Räsänen, chief executive of electricity company Savon Voima, said his company had seen a significant increase in cyberattacks against its network since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Räsänen also said engineers had found at least 10 stickers at vulnerable points in energy infrastructure and that drones had been observed near power lines. The people responsible for the stickers and drone activity have not been identified.
Finnish security officials have urged caution when interpreting such observations. The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service has said it investigated a wide range of reports and found nothing of concern. Some reported stickers were linked to ordinary land surveying work, while many drone sightings had everyday explanations.
There is stronger official evidence of satellite navigation interference. Finland's Transport and Communications Agency has reported increased interference affecting satellite navigation and said some of the interference originated from Russian territory. The agency has also said that identifying the source of interference does not establish the intention behind it.
Cybersecurity remains another part of Finland's preparedness planning. Finnish authorities have described the country's overall cybersecurity situation as stable, while warning that threats are changing. These include the use of artificial intelligence in cyberattacks, attacks on Microsoft 365 accounts and risks involving supply chains.
Finland also advises households to be prepared to manage without outside assistance for at least 72 hours during a serious disruption. People are encouraged to keep essential supplies such as water, food and medicines available.
The exercise comes as Finland continues to strengthen its wider national resilience. The Finnish government adopted a new National Security Concept in May 2026, placing emphasis on defence, cooperation with NATO allies, protection of critical infrastructure and preparedness for hybrid threats.
At the same time, Finnish leaders have said there is no indication of an imminent Russian attack on Finland or another NATO member.
President Alexander Stubb said in August that he considered a Russian attack on a NATO member unlikely, while stressing the importance of maintaining strong defence capabilities and preparing for possible threats.
The Kuopio exercise is therefore not evidence that Finland expects an immediate war with Russia. Instead, it reflects a broader effort to ensure that authorities and the public can respond effectively to different kinds of emergencies.
For Finland, civil defence is part of national security. The country's preparedness system is designed not only for a possible military crisis, but also for cyberattacks, power and water disruptions, communications failures and other emergencies that could affect everyday life.
The Shelter 2026 exercise is testing whether that system can work when thousands of people need protection and normal services are no longer available.