Norway Revives Cold War Air Raid Shelter Requirements Amid Russia Tensions

Norway is reinstating mandatory air raid shelters in new large buildings, a requirement lifted in 1998 after the Soviet Union's collapse. The move is part of a 'total defence' strategy focusing on civil readiness, as Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that 'war could once again come to Norway.' The St. Hanshaugen shelter in Oslo, one of the city's largest, can accommodate 1,100 people and is designed to protect against bombings and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Norway's Civil Defence head Oistein Knudsen stated that the country currently has about 18,600 shelters, covering less than 50% of its 5.6 million population, many of which are Cold War-era and in need of upgrades due to humidity and age.