Switzerland, known for its neutral stance, is looking to modernize its nuclear shelters, according to HotNews.
The country's aging shelters have become more important, especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Switzerland has long been ahead of its neighbors, like Germany, in this regard. Thanks to a 1963 law, every person in Switzerland, including foreigners and refugees, has a place in a shelter.
These shelters protect people from bombs and nuclear radiation. With 9 million people living in the country, this has been an essential part of its defense strategy.
Louis-Henri Delarageaz, the commander of civil protection in the canton of Vaud, shared with Reuters that Switzerland is working on updating its older shelters and eliminating some exceptions to the rules.
The government has launched consultations to ensure the country remains resilient in case of armed conflict.
A 220 million Swiss franc ($250 million) project will be used to modernize these structures.
The Swiss government insists that these upgrades are not meant to signal preparations for war.
Instead, they are simply maintaining and ensuring that the country’s network of shelters is functional.
For example, in the village of Bercher, civil protection officers recently checked a shelter under an apartment building.
After inspecting the bunker, they found several issues. A fan was stuck, and an escape tunnel was full of cobwebs.
The team leader concluded that the shelter was unusable in its current state. The residents were given a year to fix the problems, or they would have to pay for a spot in a public shelter.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Swiss residents became concerned about their safety.
Delarageaz said that his office received numerous calls from people asking if their shelters were ready. Requests even came from French citizens, but they had to be turned away.
Switzerland has remained neutral in foreign wars since 1815.
However, it has faced aerial bombings during World War II, making its defense preparations even more significant today.
