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Finland conducts large civil defense drill simulating attacks on critical infrastructure

Over 2,000 participants in Kuopio rehearse shelter operations, cyberattack responses, and 72-hour survival preparedness.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 07:18 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • More than 2,000 people, including volunteers, students, and conscripts, participated in a civil defense exercise in Kuopio, Finland.
  • The drill simulated cyberattacks on essential services like water and electricity alongside the threat of missile strikes.
  • Officials and energy executives used the drill to reinforce self-reliance protocols, advising citizens to be prepared to manage independently for at least 72 hours.
  • Finnish security officials continue assessing suspicious infrastructure reports, concluding many stem from routine activities despite heightened public vigilance.

Key facts

  • The exercise in Kuopio is the largest civil defense drill held in Europe since World War II, involving more than 2,000 participants.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The drill's scenario centered on critical infrastructure disruptions caused by cyberattacks combined with potential missile threats from Russia.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • Savon Voima electricity company CEO Juha Räsänen reported an increase in cyberattacks against the energy network following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the end of Russian biofuel purchases.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service stated that its investigations into reported suspicious items and drone sightings found no security threats, attributing them to everyday causes such as land surveying.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia and joined NATO alongside Sweden in 2024.[Associated Press · ABC News]

What remains uncertain

  • The origins and intent behind unidentified stickers found on vulnerable power infrastructure and drones seen over power lines remain undetermined by energy operators.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Sources