The Swedish Psychological Defense Agency, based in Karlstad and with an office in Solna, will be headed by director general Henrik Landerholm, a former ambassador, and will have 45 staff. It will work with academics, the military and the media, and will offer support to regions, companies and organisations within the country.

The aim is to identify, analyze and respond to 'inappropriate influences' and other misleading information.

"It can be disinformation aimed at weakening the country's resilience and the population's will to defend itself or unduly influencing people's perceptions, behaviours and decision making," the agency explains on its website.

"Psychological defence must also strengthen the population's ability to detect and resist influence campaigns and disinformation. Psychological defence contributes to creating resistance and willingness to defend among our population and in society as a whole."