He celebrates Christmas in Poland - to protect Ukraine support

The Swedes have with them the advanced Patriot air defense system. It is Sweden's heaviest ground-based air defense, with the ability to fight ballistic robots, cruise robots, airplanes and helicopters.

For just over a year, the Dutch armed forces have had the NATO mission, which Sweden is now taking over.

- It's very fun that they feel they can send us, that they feel we know our stuff so well and are so well practiced. It is clear that it is a very serious task, but this is what we have to work with, says Ville.

In the last weeks before departure, everything is fine-tuned. On this day, there is a fire drill in the brilliant November sun at the Ringenäs shooting range, right next to the Kattegatt. One of the exercises involves putting out the fire in a smoking body.

The soldiers testify to a certain concern among close relatives, a concern that can also be sensed in the way they express themselves. Mattias describes it as a lump in the stomach.

- But I see it as something good that I have this lump, because it shows that it is real.

Rzeszów in southeastern Poland is a logistics hub for civil and military support to Ukraine. Per Skoglund, docent at the Norwegian Defense Academy, describes the city as a cornerstone for Ukraine's livelihood. Here there is an airport, warehouses, transshipment centers and repair shops in the middle of a well-developed road and rail network.

Russia is not prepared to go on the attack, because that would be starting a war against NATO, emphasizes Per Skoglund. But there is still a need for protection against Russian robots, because Russia could fire a single robot and blame it on losing control of it.

- We can never know if they sent it on purpose or if they actually lost control of a robot. In any case, Russia will always say that they have gone astray.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mattsson, who is in charge of the operation, also sees no imminent threat to the site, but emphasizes that the mission is necessary.

The biggest challenge will be dealing with two different worlds at the same time, he believes. The soldiers will live in a city that is at peace - while it is a sharp mission.

- It will probably be the challenge, to maintain sharpness for a longer period of time, even though you might be able to go to the cinema one evening.

The armed forces do not want the soldiers' surnames to be published.