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19.3.2025 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior and the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries signed a joint letter of intent concerning cooperation on civil defence shelters on 19 March 2025 in connection with the meeting between President of the Republic Alexander Stubb and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

28.5.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo travelled to Kyiv on Wednesday 28 May at the invitation of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

24.10.2024 | On 24 October, the Government issued a decree laying down provisions on cooperation in preparedness for civil defence and related plans in the wellbeing services counties. The decree specifies the practices of cooperation between the authorities of the wellbeing services counties.

8.11.2023 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Swedish Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin met in Espoo on 7 November. The Ministers had a general discussion on the importance of civil preparedness and civil defence shelters. Minister Bohlin recognised the long-term work carried out in Finland on civil defence shelters.

4.5.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has launched a project to develop guidance for the public on how to prepare for emergency conditions. The guidance will complement existing preparedness advice in the Preparing for Incidents and Crises guide published on Suomi.fi.

29.5.2023 | According to the 2023 survey, the attitudes of Finns towards rescue services have remained positive. World events, such as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, are clearly reflected in how Finns perceive the likelihood that potential risks may materialise. Similarly, Finns see civil defence as more necessary than before.

28.8.2023 | Finland's civil defence shelters are largely in good repair, but there is still some need for maintenance and repairs. A new Ministry of the Interior study shows that more than 90 per cent of civil defence shelters would provide people with good protection against the effects of conventional weapons. Shelter equipment is in most need of repair. Based on the report, the Ministry of the Interior has drawn up four recommendations for improving the network of civil defence shelters.

9.2.2023 | Finland has around 50,500 civil defence shelters with space for about 4.8 million people. Finland has a sufficient number of places in shelters. Civil defence shelters are located in large cities in particular. The highest number of places in civil defence shelters in relation to the population can be found in the Greater Helsinki area and Pirkanmaa. This is evident in the preliminary data of the Ministry of the Interior’s report.

1.11.2022 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will meet Sweden’s new Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin on 1 November in Helsinki. The ministers will discuss cooperation between the two countries in the field of civil preparedness.

2.2.2023 | In the first supplementary budget proposal for 2023, the Government proposes an increase of EUR 6.9 million for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior. A total of EUR 2.477 million is proposed for the police to prevent and combat youth crime. EUR 1.037 million is proposed for strengthening multi-professional and preventive Anchor work by the police. In addition, the Government propo...

2.12.2022 | On 2 December 2022, ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland met in Reykjavik in the framework of so-called Haga cooperation. State Secretary Akseli Koskela from the Ministry of the Interior represented Finland at the meeting.

25.2.2020 | Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo awarded Medals of Merit First Class for Civil Defence and Medals of Merit Second Class for Civil Defence on 24 February. These Medals of Merit are awarded for meritorious or highly meritorious work for the good of civil defence.

14.12.2021 | Today, ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland met via videoconference in the framework of so-called Haga cooperation. Finland’s Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen chaired the meeting, which ended Finland’s 2021 chairmanship of the Haga cooperation.

10.2.2021 | Finland and Sweden will strengthen their cooperation and exchange of information in the field of civil preparedness and rescue services. On 10 February, Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo and Swedish Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg signed a letter of intent on closer cooperation between Finland and Sweden.

28.5.2025 | The Government submitted its second supplementary budget proposal for 2025 to Parliament on Wednesday 28 May. The supplementary budget proposes funding for the development of civil defence and the emergency warning system as well as for the maritime capabilities of the Finnish Border Guard.

13.5.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen met Estonia's new Minister of the Interior Igor Taro in Helsinki on Tuesday 13 May. Topics of their discussion included preparedness, hybrid threats and their prevention, and police cooperation between Estonia and Finland.

13.3.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen visited Ukraine on 11–12 March and met with Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. During her visit, Minister Rantanen also learnt about the various activities of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ branch of government, such as the situation centre and the operations of rescuers and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

24.4.2025 | In its spending limits discussion, the Government agreed on strengthening the resources of the police, the Finnish Border Guard, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and civil defence in order to prepare for wide-ranging threats. The capabilities of the internal security authorities are an essential part of Finland's comprehensive security.

27.3.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has published a nation-wide report on how well the targets set for rescue services and their finances have been achieved in the wellbeing services counties. The report recommends that the counties focus on recruitment of rescuers and preparedness for civil defence. They should also step up their efforts on incident and accident prevention with a view to reducing the number of incidents, accidents and fires across Finland.

24.2.2025 | Finland has been active in responding to Ukraine’s need for assistance. Finland has delivered more than 100 vehicles to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The latest consignment of 16 vehicles was delivered during the first weeks of February. Finland has also delivered more than 400 truckloads of civilian material assistance to Ukraine through the EU mechanism.