Inside the nuclear war leaflet given to Sweden families as WW3 fears grow

Instructions on how to stockpile food and even seek shelter during a nuclear attack are included in the pamphlet given to millions of residents in Sweden as fears grow of World War Three

Photographs lay bare the stark instructions given to millions of residents across Sweden on how to protect themselves in the event of a nuclear attack.

The booklet "If Crisis or War Comes", sent out by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), contains information about how to prepare for emergencies such as war, natural disasters, cyber attacks and terrorism.

Its new introduction states: "An insecure world requires preparedness. The military threat to Sweden has increased and we must prepare for the worst - an armed attack."

Sweden has amended the ddocument, first issued in 2018, as tensions between Moscow and the West escalated to new heights after Joe Biden gave Kyiv the green light to blast targets deep inside Russia with US-supplied long-range missiles. Donald Trump's son slammed the decision as making sure "they get WWIII going before my father has a chance to create peace".

In one of the more worrying excerpts, which harks back to advice given by governments during the darkest days of the Cold War, it informs people of the risk of nuclear weapons.

"The global security situation increases the risks that nuclear weapons could be used. In the event of an attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, take cover in the same way as in an air attack,' the pamphlet instructs readers.

"Shelter provides the best protection. After a couple of days, the radiation has decreased significantly," it advises, adding that people will be warned of attacks over the radio and should go to basements or subways if there is no better option.

Another message, which has been brought forward from the middle of the booklet in the updated version, reads: "If Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never give up. All information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false."

Biden's move to permit Ukraine's use of US-supplied long-range missiles has riled supporters of president-elect Donald Trump, who pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible. Trump's oldest son, Donald Trump Jr, posted on X after Biden's decision was announced, saying that "the military industrial complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long pressed western backers to allow his country to strike military targets deeper inside Russia, but allies had resisted his pleas amid fears that doing so would cross a "red line" set by Vladimir Putin. Back in September, Russia's president said that he would consider western nations 'direct participants' in the war in Ukraine if they were to provide Kyiv with the ability to strike targets inside Russia.