People in Finland have been left unsettled by expansionist neighbor Russia and inspired by its recent accession to NATO, are increasingly taking national self-defense into their own hands.

Summary

Finland, recently joining NATO and sharing an 830-mile border with Russia, is bolstering its national defense amid concerns over Russia’s aggression, particularly after the invasion of Ukraine.

Weapons training and reservist activities have surged, with shooting range memberships doubling and over 120,000 defense training days held this year.

The government plans to build 300+ new shooting ranges and maintain Cold War-era shelters for 85% of its population.

Drawing on its history of resisting Russian forces, Finland is preparing civilians and military reservists for potential threats.