The war in Ukraine and how it can affect us in Sweden

What is happening in Ukraine?

Russia and Ukraine are neighbours and have long had conflicts. One is over an area called Crimea, which was taken over by Russia in 2014 against Ukraine's wishes. And because Ukraine wants to join NATO, an alliance of countries that have pledged to defend each other in the event of war. Russia is not a member of NATO, and they do not want Ukraine to join either. In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine with bombers and guns and since then there has been war between the countries.

News reports say Russia could attack more countries in two to three years. Could that happen?

Nobody really knows what will happen in the future. Right now Russia is at war with the country of Ukraine, because Russia thinks it should own Ukraine.
Sweden and many other countries are helping Ukraine because we want Ukraine to keep its country. Sweden is also a member of the NATO defence alliance, where we have promised to help each other if someone is attacked. We are also part of the EU, which also helps each other. Lots of people are working hard to ensure that no more countries go to war. The reason why there is so much talk about it in the news right now is because we, together with other countries, need to show Russia that it would be a bad idea to try to attack us.

Could there be war in Sweden?

At the moment, the risk of Sweden being attacked is small, but there are tensions in the world, for example due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Swedish Armed Forces are keeping a close eye on what is happening in the world to protect us. We don't think there will be a war in Sweden here and now. But because it is difficult to know how the world around us will change, we as a country need to be better prepared for what might happen. It doesn't have to be war, a major crisis like a power cut is also something we need to be prepared for. Everyone is needed in the defence of Sweden, so it is important that as many people as possible in Sweden know how to help.

If the US stops helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, will we in Sweden have to send all our soldiers there?

What is being talked about is that the US does not want to help Ukraine as much as before, and then the rest of us have to do more. And it is Sweden itself that decides whether we should send soldiers anywhere. We have joined NATO, but we still choose how we want to help. Many good people are working to help Ukraine and to stop the war from spreading to other countries.

How is Sweden helping Ukraine?

Sweden is helping Ukraine with emergency aid, weapons and other equipment for their defence, but we are not sending soldiers and are not involved in the war. Most of the aid we send to Ukraine is to help people who have been forced to flee or who are otherwise affected by the war.

A map showing Sweden, Russia and Ukraine. Map: MSB

Do I need to be afraid?

No, you don't need to be afraid, but we can't control our emotions either. It's not strange to feel scared when scary things happen. If something you hear, see or read scares you, you can always talk to an adult about it. It's important not to keep such worries inside. We need each other, especially when we are scared and worried. That's why it's so good that many people are doing so much right now. That we come together and support each other. So it's good if you can talk to someone close to you about what you are thinking and feeling.

The situation in Ukraine, where the war is ongoing, is of course very serious. Here in Sweden it's still not close to war, and there are many adults working to keep track of what's going on, so that it will continue to be safe in Sweden.

The adults around you are responsible for telling you if there is something very important you need to know, if something serious happens. You do not have to take responsibility for keeping track of all the information yourself.

Is there a risk of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine?

Threatening to use nuclear weapons is a way of intimidating and trying to get other countries to comply. Nobody knows for sure what Russia will do in the war against Ukraine, but most experts believe that the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons is low. Today, quite a few countries in the world have nuclear weapons, but even so, nuclear weapons have not been used in war for more than 75 years.

Could we in Sweden be harmed by a nuclear attack on Ukraine?

When a nuclear weapon explodes, dangerous radioactive radiation is produced and sometimes it can be carried by the wind far away from the explosion. However, the further away from the explosion, the less radiation there is in the air. Sweden is so far away from Ukraine that the effects here would be quite small. But Swedish experts would still need to measure the radiation so that we know how much it is.

Is everything I see on social media about the war true?

No, not everything on social media is true. Sometimes someone exaggerates, or posts something to get attention. Or to make you think and feel something special.

Do I need to do anything special because of the war?

The best thing you can do right now is to continue living your life as usual.

One thing that's always good to think about is having a supply of water, food and other things at home. This is useful if, for example, there is an extended power cut or other crisis. Even when there is a war in countries far away from Sweden, the shelves in the shops here can be empty, if it's food or other things that Sweden usually buys from those countries.

Everyone, adults and children, is important in society. Even when everything is calm and peaceful everywhere, there are those who need help from others. If you are a member of a scout group, a football club or any other association, you can talk to your leaders about ways to help others. Many associations have already done so during the pandemic.