Swedish media reporting on the security and defense conference, which took place in the Saelen ski resort in the west of the country, noted that “fear of war” was an unusual phenomenon in Sweden. After all, this country has not participated in armed conflicts for more than 200 years and declares neutrality.
See also: Strong words from the general. He claims that after Ukraine, Putin will come to Poland
After Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and neighboring Finland decided to abandon the non-aligned policy and decided to join NATO. Finland has joined the Alliance, Stockholm is still waiting for the application to be accepted by the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments.
Politicians warned and appealed
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in Saelen that his country had “a theoretical view of war in recent years, but Russia's attack on Ukraine changed that.” — It's clear that it exists Russia's actions give us reason to take them very seriously – he emphasized.
Poliyuk noted that Ukraine's stance showed Sweden that “the country's greatest resource in times of war is the collective will to endure.” He reminded that a Swedish passport does not only mean the ability to travel freely, but also the obligation to defend the country's territory.
See also: Sweden will join NATO. His army was created with one goal: to fight Russia
Defense Minister Pal Jonson emphasized this “an armed attack on Sweden cannot be ruled out”. “War might befall us too,” he said.
Civil Defense Minister Carl Oskar Bohlin called for “mental preparation for the outbreak of war”. — All Swedes aged 16 to 70 must be prepared to face difficult environmental conditions, Bohlin said.
In Saelen, Jonson announced an analysis of activities aimed at encouraging Swedes to choose military professions, and Bohlin, in charge of civil defense, announced efforts to prepare hospitals for war conditions. This involves significant challenges, including technical challenges. The new building of Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, opened in 2016, has modern equipment but a glass facade. However, Southern Hospital, completed in 1944, had a crypt carved into the rock in case of war.
The military also warned
In his speech, the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, Micael Byden, showed photos of the destruction carried out by Russia in Ukraine.
— Do you think Sweden will look like this? The war in Ukraine is a step, not the end goal, in the ambition to establish zones of interest and destroy the rules-based world order, he stressed.
In Sweden, mandatory civil service will be restored in mid-Januaryas part of the training, rescue service workers will be the first to be called for training.
Russian disinformation
Kremlin propaganda reacted to statements by Sweden's most important politicians and military officials. According to Aftonbladet, a deputy from Putin's United Russia party, Alexei Pushkov, wrote on his Telegram channel that Sweden suffers from “Russian paranoia”, “war dreams” and exaggerates the importance of its geographical location. Minister Jonson, in a statement to SVT television, called these statements “a form of disinformation”.
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