Uppsala county authorities led the Havsörn exercise, a major nuclear drill simulating an accident at Forsmark with radioactive release. The exercise concluded today after three phases testing preparedness among multiple agencies. Officials stress the scenario is highly unlikely but requires readiness.
Uppsala county, home to one of Sweden's three nuclear power regions, holds regular drills to prepare for potential accidents. The latest, named Havsörn and led by the County Administrative Board of Uppsala, occurs every six years. It wrapped up on March 26, 2026, simulating a nuclear incident at the Forsmark plant involving radioactive release and fallout. Johan Larsson, defense director at the Uppsala County Administrative Board, stated: “Even though the scenario is incredibly unlikely, we have a mandate to be prepared for it.” The exercise featured three key phases. First, the alarm chain was tested, ensuring information from Forsmark reached rescue services, the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), the Armed Forces, and other entities to initiate collaboration. Next came a command exercise covering hours 4 to 13 post-accident, including a seminar on evacuating the inner preparedness zone near Forsmark the following day. The final phase established a field site in Gimo. Rescue teams deployed vehicles for radiation measurements around Forsmark, reporting findings to pinpoint evacuation zones. Robin Dahlberg, deputy shift leader at Uppsala Fire and Rescue Service, noted: “This provides information on where to evacuate areas.” Participants included rescue services, SSM, the Armed Forces, and the County Administrative Board. The drill aimed to ensure coordinated crisis response.
