Norway, Finland, Poland Expand Civilian Military Training Amid Russian Threat

Norway, Finland and Poland are stepping up efforts to prepare their populations for a potential war with Russia, training civilians and schoolchildren in firearms handling, urban warfare, drone operations and battlefield first aid. The German newspaper Bild reported on Wednesday, Nov. 4 that the three countries are expanding their approach to national defense beyond their regular armed forces, with military reservists, government institutions, businesses and ordinary citizens increasingly involved in preparations for a potential crisis.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Norway has declared 2026 the year of “Total Defense,” a strategy that calls for the entire society to contribute to protecting the country. Its Home Guard (Heimevernet) has more than 40,000 reservists, nearly twice the size of the regular armed forces, which number around 23,000. The reservists come from across society, including lawyers, electricians, bankers, insurance agents and farmers. Many leave their civilian jobs once a year to participate in military exercises. In September, around 5,000 armed reservists took part in the largest Home Guard exercise of the year in Oslo. Norway is also expanding its civil defense preparations. The country has around 19,000 shelters capable of accommodating more than half of its population of 5.5 million. Residents are encouraged to maintain emergency supplies at home and know the location of their nearest shelter. Other Topics of Interest Post-Ceasefire Ukraine Deployment, 2,800 European Troops Involved France and Britain will lead a multinational military exercise in Poland to prepare European forces for deployment to Ukraine after a ceasefire. Finland is similarly relying on a society-wide defense model. Around 45,000 reservists undergo training each year, practicing urban combat, drone operations and battlefield medicine. Civilians can also take voluntary defense courses covering firearms handling and first aid. During a recent civil defense exercise, more than 2,000 people practiced responding to cyberattacks, power outages and potential missile strikes. Finland has around 50,500 civil defense shelters with capacity for approximately 4.8 million people. Many double as sports halls, parking garages and other public facilities during peacetime but must be ready for emergency use within 72 hours. Poland, which borders Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Moscow’s ally Belarus, has introduced several programs to prepare civilians for a potential armed conflict. Under the wGotowości (“wReady”) initiative, participants attend weekend courses covering basic military skills and evacuation procedures. Around 18,000 people registered during the first weeks after the program was launched in 2025. Another initiative, Trenuj z wojskiem (“Train with the Army”), provides military-led instruction in firearms handling, grenade throwing and other basic combat skills. Demand has been so high in some cities that organizers have had to establish waiting lists. Military preparedness training has also entered Polish schools. Students learn first aid, survival techniques and how to respond to armed conflict. Shooting exercises are included from the age of 14. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.