The European Union has provided Finland with funds to create a first-ever so-called “reserve” against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats for use by all member states, the Finnish government announced on Tuesday, as cited by Reuters and Agerpres.

Inside the nuclear bunkerPhoto: Stephen Barnes-Military / Alamy / Profimedia Images

“Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine confirmed the need to strengthen the EU’s CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) readiness,” European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarchic said in a statement.

The stockpile will consist of medical and life-saving equipment, such as antidotes and radiation detectors, designed to protect emergency personnel and civilians, Finland’s interior ministry said.

Finland shares a 1,300 km border with Russia and is close to the Baltic states, which also fear that an escalation of the war in Ukraine could lead to the use of nuclear weapons or a nuclear accident.

The “reserve” created in Finland will be able to quickly gain access to EU countries

“The stockpile to be created in Finland will improve the strategic readiness of the European Union to respond to various types of threats, especially in northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region,” Finnish Interior Minister Krista Mikkonen said in a statement.

Starting in 2024, this reserve, for which the EU allocated 242 million euros, will be able to send supplies to a disaster or crisis zone within 12 hours of accepting an offer of help, the statement added.

Finland has maintained large national reserves of staples such as grain, fuel and medicine for decades after losing about 10% of its territory to the Soviet Union after repelling an attempted Soviet invasion during World War II.

Like neighboring Sweden, Finland is awaiting membership ratification after abandoning its historic neutrality after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, but faces opposition from Turkey, which accuses the two northern states of harboring people the Ankara-based regime has labeled “terrorists.”

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