WW3 fears as Norwegians warned homes could be seized if Putin invades | World | News

Norwegians are being warned their homes could be seized if Russia invades the country, as fears over a possible World War 3 continue to skyrocket. Poland has also issued a frightening survival guide for all its residents in the event of a global conflict.

The warning comes after authorities in Oslo sent thousands of letters to citizens instructing them to be ready to hand over homes, vehicles and other key assets if conflict erupts. Norwegian military officials stressed the notices are a pre-emptive measure aimed at ensuring the armed forces can rapidly access essential civilian resources should the country face an invasion from Russia, amid rising tensions across Europe. Around 13,500 so-called “preparatory requisition” notices were issued this week, warning that cars, boats, machinery and even private property could be temporarily confiscated if the measure is triggered. Norwegian officials said the orders are valid for one year and are designed to ensure the military can respond immediately in a national emergency, stressing that the country faces its most serious security situation since the Second World War as tensions with Moscow continue to escalate.

Oslo’s military said in a statement: “The requisitions are intended to ensure that, in a wartime situation, the armed forces have access to the resources necessary for the defence of the country.”

However, officials stressed the measure is not new, with around two-thirds of those contacted simply having an existing requisition notice renewed from previous years.

Norway’s head of military logistics, Anders Jernberg, warned that the importance of preparing for crisis and war has “increased dramatically” in recent years, as the country ramps up both military and civilian readiness. The senior official said the security environment facing the NATO member is now the most dangerous in decades.

He added: “Our society must be prepared for security policy crises and, in the worst case, war we are undertaking a major build-up of military and civil preparedness.”

Norway is widely regarded within NATO as the alliance’s eyes and ears in the Arctic, a region of growing strategic importance as Russia and China seek to expand their influence. The warning comes as defence officials across Europe ramp up military readiness, amid concerns that the standoff with Moscow could spiral further if tensions continue to intensify.

The Scandinavian nation shares both a maritime frontier and a 198-kilometre land border with Russia in the far north, placing it on NATO’s frontline in the Arctic.

Fears have also surged in Poland, where the government has begun distributing World War 3 survival handbooks. The chilling guides, set to be sent to 17 million households, tell civilians how they should prepare for emergencies ranging from military attacks and terrorism to the use of nuclear and chemical weapons.

Speaking on X, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: “We have already delivered over 4 million ‘Safety Guides’.

“The ‘Safety Guide’ complements the activities carried out under the Population Protection and Civil Defense Program and, step by step, reaches every household, directly into the hands of citizens.”

The guides come as officials warn that the security threats facing Poland have intensified dramatically amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The handbook warns in stark terms that the security situation has deteriorated sharply in recent years, stating: “The threats Poland faces have substantially grown in the last few years. Disinformation, cyberattacks, hybrid threats, hostile disruption, and sabotage are used to destabilise the country.”

The warning follows comments from Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who claimed that once the US seizes Greenland, it could next turn its attention to Iceland.

Speaking in Moscow, he said: “Greenland is not a natural part of Denmark. It was neither a natural part of Norway nor a natural part of Denmark. It is a colonial conquest. The fact that the inhabitants are now accustomed to it and feel comfortable is another matter.”