Underground city to escape nuclear attack: Finland's swanky bunkers in news amid NATO move | Russia war

An underground city, to withstand nuclear attacks. The massive underground tunnel and chamber network in Russia's neighbour Finland is in news again amid the Ukraine war, and fears of the conflict escalating and spreading.

This subterranean city is claimed to be blast-proof, gas-proof, and impervious to radiation and dangerous chemicals. Construction began in the 1980s, but the bunkers are in news again because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Feeling threatened by Moscow's recent actions, Finland has decided to join the US-led NATO military alliance.

Meanwhile, Russia's nuclear sabre-rattling is continuing to grow. After repeated warnings of nuclear action by Russian President Vladimir Putin, other elements in the country have started dangling this threat.

Commenting on Finland and Sweden seeking NATO membership, a presenter on a Russian state-owned media outlet reportedly said that Moscow will deploy "tactical nuclear weapons" to "neutralise the imbalance" posed by the Nordic nations joining NATO.

So, what's special about Finland's underground bunkers? They are situated around 60 feet beneath the surface. The entire network can reportedly house 7 lakh to 9 lakh people, which is more than Helsinki's population.

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What is interesting is the large number of facilities meant to make stay inside the shelters as comfortable as possible. These include football pitches, children's playgrounds, cafeteria, and car parks.

Some of these facilities like sports areas and car parks are also used in peace time. But these can be converted into defence shelters within 72 hours, as per officials.