Eight packages of military aid to Ukraine including weapons, equipment and ammunition have been sent by Bulgaria, strictly following the decisions of the Parliament, Acting Defense Minister Atanas Zaprianov told reporters in response to a question about photos of Bulgarian self-propelled howitzers “Gvozdika” in Ukraine, the which were published on social media.
The minister attended the ceremony for the start of the new academic year at the GS Rakovski Defense College. “I can confirm that there was such equipment,” Zaprianov replied when asked if Bulgaria had sent such weapons, explaining, however, that he could not confirm that the equipment in the photos was a Bulgarian howitzer, as all former Warsaw Pact countries continue to help Ukraine and to send such systems.
Eight packages of military aid to Ukraine including weapons, equipment and ammunition have been sent by Bulgaria, strictly following the decisions of the Parliament, Acting Defense Minister Atanas Zaprianov told reporters in response to a question about photos of Bulgarian self-propelled howitzers “Gvozdika” in Ukraine, the which were published on social media.
The minister attended the ceremony for the start of the new academic year at the GS Rakovski Defense College. “I can confirm that there was such equipment,” Zaprianov replied when asked if Bulgaria had sent such weapons, explaining, however, that he could not confirm that the equipment in the photos was a Bulgarian howitzer, as all former Warsaw Pact countries continue to help Ukraine and to send such systems.
“There is an increase in enrollment in military schools as we try to fill 100% of student positions in higher military schools,” Zaprianov said, adding that officer departures have stopped.
For the Rafales
When asked about Serbia’s purchase of French Dassault Rafale fighter jets, Zaprianov was unequivocal: “Bulgaria is a NATO member state, our defense is guaranteed by the allies. Next year we will receive the first eight F 16 Block 70 aircraft and then the other eight.
It is the normal process that countries follow to replace old equipment with new. The priority of our policy is the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union. Serbia, like Bosnia-Herzegovina, are members of the NATO ‘Partnership for Peace’ initiative, and we are building good neighborly relations with them. We do not see the rearmament of our armed forces as a threat to our neighbors and we accept their rearmament as a transparent process of national decision that does not pose a threat to us.”
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