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Additional surveys show that concern about Russian aggression is highest in countries closest to Russia. According to a YouGov poll, Russian military pressure is seen as one of the top threats by:
51% of respondents in Poland
57% in Lithuania
62% in Denmark
Across Europe, “armed conflict” now ranks among the top public concerns, alongside economic instability and energy security.
Why Eastern Europe Is Leading the Response
We are heading for a war Europe might lose’: Continent preparing public for possible conflict – The Irish Times
While EU leaders broadly agree on the threat, action has been most decisive in Europe’s east.
Countries such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, and Sweden have taken visible steps to prepare their populations—both practically and psychologically.
Lithuania has begun developing so-called “drone walls” along its borders, while working with Latvia to restore wetlands as natural defensive barriers. National awareness campaigns, resilience exercises, and public drills are now common.
Lithuania’s Interior Ministry distributed shelter maps and emergency hotline information. Latvia introduced mandatory national defence education in schools.
Poland built physical barriers along its border with Belarus and expanded security education programs. Some secondary schools now include firearm safety instruction for teenagers.
Finland, Estonia, and Sweden have revived Cold War–era practices by publishing civil defence guides explaining how to respond during crises, power outages, or evacuations. Sweden even mailed updated “If Crisis or War Comes” brochures to every household in 2025.
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