Europe ramps up civil shelter construction; Finland, Switzerland lead, Ukraine war drives shift

European countries are accelerating construction of civil defense shelters, with Finland and Switzerland already covering nearly all residents, while others that cut investments after the Cold War now scramble to catch up. The shift is driven by lessons from the war in Ukraine, marking a reversal of the post-Cold War 'peace dividend' approach. The scale and pace of new construction remain uncertain, but the trend signals a strategic pivot toward civilian resilience.