The Russian armed forces committed systematic war crimes. This was stated in the report on the state of defense for 2022, which was approved by the caretaker government.
The document states that Russian military aggression was the most immediate threat to world peace.
Hybrid attacks on gas supplies
An increase in cybersecurity risks is also reported.
“In the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU countries, including Bulgaria, have been subjected to repeated and sustained offensive cyber operations. Cyber attacks against critical infrastructure are expected to continue, combined with other hybrid actions, large-scale disinformation campaigns and attempts to provoke social discontent and migration processes, sabotage and sabotage”.
According to the authors of the report, a lasting trend is emerging towards the severance of energy ties between the Russian Federation and Europe and the reorientation of countries, including ours, towards new energy partnerships.
“Russia’s aggressive actions have had a strong negative impact on stability in the wider Black Sea region and the Western Balkans. The security situation in frozen conflict zones has worsened. The main security threat has stemmed from the unprovoked war against Ukraine, Russia’s growing opposition to the West and aspirations through force mechanisms, including threats to use nuclear weapons, to change, according to its understanding, the world order and to carve out its sphere of dominance and influence”.
And a pack of problems
The report reports that the defense spending level of 2% of GDP is insufficient. However, Bulgaria still cannot reach even this level.
The problems with the supply of specific spare parts and consumables due to the sanctions against Russia are also indicated.
Once again, the personnel collapse in the army is noted. Almost 20% of the positions are now vacant.
“The fundamentally changed security environment places increased demands on the defensive capabilities of the Bulgarian armed forces and necessitates the acceleration of the process of rearmament and modernization”.
