Finland is advising the United Kingdom on how to enhance its civil defence capabilities in response to the rising threat of hybrid warfare, particularly from Russia. Drawing on its extensive experience living alongside Russia—sharing NATO’s longest border with the country—Finland is providing guidance on how the UK can better prepare its civilian population and critical infrastructure for emergencies during wartime.
Finnish officials are engaging with senior British peers and members of parliament, focusing on practical measures to safeguard civilians, maintain operational continuity of essential services, and defend businesses against cyberattacks. This includes support measures for companies integral to national infrastructure, such as banks and transportation firms, which in Finland are required to maintain back-up systems to ensure resilience against disruptions.
Recent events in Europe underscore the urgency of this cooperation. In September, hundreds of French supermarkets experienced a cyberattack that led to refrigeration failures, resulting in significant food spoilage and financial losses. Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts have identified vulnerabilities in widely used internet technologies, and intelligence points to Russia employing fishing trawlers near UK waters to conduct surveillance on critical undersea cables. Collectively, these incidents highlight the multifaceted nature of hybrid threats, which encompass cyberattacks, espionage, disinformation campaigns, and proxy actions.
Lord Spellar, a member of Britain’s National Resilience Committee, acknowledged Finland’s longstanding commitment to preparedness and endorsed the value of learning from its approach. Labour MP Alex Ballinger, a former Royal Marine and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the Armed Forces, emphasized the parallels between the security challenges faced by Finland and the UK. He noted that Finland’s experience with continuous hybrid threats since its 1917 independence has fostered a robust national defence mindset and societal resilience, elements that Britain could emulate. Ballinger suggested that reintroducing national service could be part of enhancing Britain’s preparedness, pointing to Finland’s conscription system and extensive civilian bomb shelter network capable of protecting the vast majority of its population.
In addition to physical defence measures, Finland is addressing information warfare by educating young people in media literacy to counter disinformation efforts aimed at undermining societal morale. This follows broader concerns in Europe, including investigations in France and Italy into Russia’s role in propagating misinformation linked to public unrest. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto described such activity as part of a “hybrid war” against Western countries.
Experts with experience in civil defence warn that the UK currently lags behind its European counterparts. Nick Gould, who trained in civil defence during the Cold War, remarked that while Britain is prepared for isolated terrorist events, it is not sufficiently equipped for sustained, complex threats across the entire nation.
As hybrid warfare tactics continue to evolve, UK officials are looking to Finland’s comprehensive civil defence strategies as a model to bolster national resilience and safeguard against emerging security challenges.