Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine: Finland Prepares Nuclear Strike Resistant Bunkers, Capable Of Accommodating 4.4 Million People

Illustration of a bunker in Finland. (Wikimedia Commons/Estormiz)

JAKARTA - Helsinki, the capital of Finland, prepares to anticipate in the event of a nuclear attack, with underground shelters or bunkers that are fully functional, safe, and comfortable for residents' activities.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Moscow's warning about Finland's desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), prompted residents of the capital to clear shelters in anticipation of the development of the situation.

It is known that Finland has built enough bunkers to accommodate 4.4 million people since 1945, only less than one million of its total population.

"People didn't pay attention to our shelters for decades, using them as storage, but actually the Ukraine war made them think about being prepared for themselves and their families," said Petri Parviainen, head of Helsinki's civil defense unit. May.

He's talking 20 meters below ground level, in a large chamber carved from 1.8 billion-year-old Finnish bedrock and painted white. Behind it was a large, thick metal door designed to withstand the explosion of a nuclear bomb. Not only that, but the door behind it also closes the underground cave from radiation and chemicals.

Located in the lower part of Helsinki and 150 kilometers from the Russian border, the Merihaka bunker is entered through a square glass structure in a paved square. It contains an elevator along with five levels of extensive steel stairs.

In an emergency, the bunker can be filled to a capacity of 6,000 in about 20 minutes. It took another 10 minutes for the civil defense volunteers to close the door. In the reservoir, there was enough water for three weeks, but no food.

The bunker network is part of Finland's comprehensive defense planning which includes 240,000 troops and Europe's largest artillery stockpile. It also relies on credible military intelligence which, it is hoped, will give people 72 hours of notice of warfare, as well as warnings of imminent attacks.

Illustration of a bunker in Finland. (Wikimedia Commons/ZeroOne)

By then, the 40 sirens stationed around Helsinki will sound, signaling its 650,000 citizens, along with tens of thousands of tourists and passengers from out of town, to take shelter in shelters that have room for 900,000 people.

"If we are under a general warning, people will receive information through their sirens or their 112 apps to move to the nearest shelter," said Tomi Rask, from the civil defense unit, while hosting an international press tour including from the BBC, Japan, Italy, and Belgium.

"While personnel are in the shelter, the doors are closed and the shelter is overstressed against any hazardous material. After that, we have several different modes of driving depending on the threat," Rask said.

"Individual shelters are notified when to switch to radiation filtering mode. It takes 10 to 15 minutes for the shelter to close and go into full protection mode."

He pointed to a street entrance that currently allows cars to park in one of the caves, the arch of which relieves the pressure of the explosion. Meanwhile, the double doors "prevent toxic chemical and gas-related weapons attacks".

"This shelter is great for countering nuclear attacks and chemical weapons and the bedrock can absorb a lot of radiation," he said as he knocked on the wall for confirmation.

Merihaka Shelter currently houses a children's soft play area, perhaps the safest in the world, a cafe, and three hockey fields next to the car park.

It also has beds for 2,000 beds for use in eight-hour shifts, toilets, and washing facilities. Residents are expected to bring their own food, medicine, and sleeping bags.

For decades, most Finns ignored the monthly test siren that sounded on the first Monday of every month. But on the last three occasions, their shrills were more audible.

However, unlike in many other European capitals, Helsinkilainen knew there was protection from Armageddon under their feet.

"It is our job to make it clear to the public that we have action in place against most of the possible threats," Rask said.

"Remember, Finland is ready," said Parviainen, when the media crew returned to midday.