The wave of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, claiming dozens of civilian lives daily, serves as a chilling reminder of how critical it is to maintain not only a strong air defense system but also a network of civil defense shelters—especially in urban areas. One standout example is Finland, which continued to invest in civil defense even after the Cold War. The country currently boasts over 50,000 shelters capable of accommodating 4.8 million of its 5.6 million citizens. In stark contrast, Germany has only 580 functioning shelters out of the 2,000 built during the Cold War, providing protection for just 480,000 people—barely half a percent of the population. Poland fares only marginally better.
During the Cold War, Warsaw Pact countries, NATO members, and neutral nations like Finland significantly expanded their shelter infrastructure to prepare for the possibility of conventional warfare in Europe. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many European nations drastically cut funding for civil defense. As a result, hundreds of shelters fell into disrepair or were dismantled entirely. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has now reversed this trend. Each week, Russian forces launch hundreds of kamikaze drones, missiles, and aerial bombs on Ukrainian cities, causing widespread civilian casualties.
Finland’s Forward-Thinking Civil Defense
Finland began mandating the construction of emergency shelters beneath residential and office buildings as early as the 1950s. Unlike most European nations, Finland maintained a consistent level of investment in civil defense infrastructure even after the Cold War.
A 2023 census by Finland’s Ministry of the Interior revealed the presence of 50,500 civil defense shelters nationwide, capable of protecting approximately 4.8 million people. Of these, 91% are durable enough to withstand conventional military attacks, and 83% can also shield against gas exposure or nuclear accidents. “Finnish civil defense shelters and their equipment are reliable and have a long service life. Only a small number are currently under repair and unable to meet the legally required 72-hour readiness,” said project manager Ira Pasi from the Finnish Ministry of the Interior.
Germany’s Neglect of War Preparedness
Germany, by comparison, appears dangerously underprepared. Of the 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers and shelters, only 580 remain functional—and most require expensive renovations, which could cost hundreds of millions of euros. Once refurbished, they would offer shelter to just 480,000 people—half a percent of the German population.
Ralph Tiesler, head of Germany’s Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), has acknowledged the country’s unpreparedness. “For a long time, the general consensus in Germany was that war was not something we needed to plan for. That has changed. We are now concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe,” Tiesler told Süddeutsche Zeitung. He called for a national effort to convert tunnels, subway stations, underground garages, parking structures, and public building basements into protective shelters, aiming to “rapidly create shelter space for one million people.”
Poland’s 10-Year Shelter Development Plan
Poland too requires significant investment in shelter infrastructure. A nationwide inventory conducted in 2023 found around 2,000 shelters capable of housing just over 300,000 people. In response, the State Fire Service launched the SCHRONY app to help citizens locate nearby shelters or emergency hiding places.
This year, authorities plan another review to assess the technical condition of current facilities, including collective protection structures. This task is being carried out by civil defense inspectors and building supervision officers in cooperation with property owners and managers.
According to the press office of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), the government aims to provide shelter for up to 50% of the population in urban areas and 25% in rural areas over the next 10 years. The focus is not on the number of shelter sites but rather their capacity relative to the local population.
Under current civil defense guidelines, collective protection facilities are categorized into hardened shelters and improvised hiding places. Time is of the essence—Poland must expand both its military and civil defense capabilities in parallel to safeguard its citizens from emerging threats.