Nine items are essential to stockpile in case a third World War breaks out. Global tensions have risen in recent years, especially with Russia’s war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the situation between Israel and Iran, as well as US President Donald Trump’s desires for America to take control of Greenland, has escalated fears of a global conflict. In 2025, the European Commission urged EU countries to stockpile critical equipment and encouraged citizens to maintain at least a 72-hour supply of essential provisions in case of emergencies.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and defence expert and lecturer at the University of Buckingham, told The Mirror that the UK should follow suit, as Sweden, Finland, and Norway have distributed detailed survival guides. In Sweden, for example, five million copies of a 32-page booklet titled If Crisis or War Comes were sent out. The European Commission has said that the EU is facing unprecedented threats – from geopolitical tensions and conflicts, cybersecurity and information manipulation risks, to climate change and increasing risks of natural hazards.
In order for people to be prepared, it is advised that they put together a survival kit with the following nine items:
- Bottled water and portable water filters
- Non-perishable food and energy bars
- Torches and backup batteries
- Fire-starting tools and a first-aid kit
- Warm clothing and shelter equipment
- Multi-tool or survival knife
- Communication devices such as radios
- Important identification documents and cash
- Navigation tools such as a compass and maps
Sergey Karaganov, head of Russia’s Council for Foreign and Defence Policy, speaking to Tucker Carlson, recently warned that if Russia suffers defeat, nuclear weapons would be deployed. He said that Europe “would be finished physically.”
He added that Russia will “have to punish Europe severely” if it continues to support Ukraine. He said: “Everybody in the world now laughs at Europe, which used to be, by the way, one of the core centres of world power. Now it’s a joke. And of course, I am not speaking of all Europe. We know that there are decent Europeans. There are smart Europeans.”
Poland is another country that has sent out survival guides to all 17 million households across the country. The guide consists of 48 pages and was produced jointly by the defence ministry.
The handbook includes instructions for air raids, terrorist incidents, cyber disruption and the possible use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
