The secret becomes clear: the supply of Bulgarian weapons to Ukraine
Bulgarian MiG-29s - it was reported about the possibility of their transfer to Ukraine. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
NATO actively supports the Kiev regime, and participating countries regularly send it this or that military-technical assistance. One of the suppliers of the material part is Bulgaria, which has quite large parks and warehouses, as well as its own defense industry. At the same time, various products come from Bulgaria to Ukraine both directly and through third countries.
Official position
The first reports of the possible participation of Bulgaria in helping the Kyiv regime appeared already at the end of February 2022 - just a few days after the start of the Russian Special Operation. At that time, foreign media claimed that the Bulgarian Air Force could transfer several available aircraft to Ukraine. The possibility of sending other military products, including new products, was also discussed.
However, soon the official Sofia denied such rumors. In addition, rallies began in Bulgaria against the transfer weapons and escalation of the conflict. As a result of these events, at the end of April, the country's president openly rejected any such supplies. The Ministry of Defense has taken the same position - given the current state of the armed forces, it cannot afford to decommission and transfer aircraft or other equipment.
Bulgarian soldiers with locally produced weapons during a NATO exercise. Photo by the US Department of Defense
In May, a proposal was submitted to the Bulgarian parliament to start deliveries of weapons to Ukraine. Despite active campaigning in favor of this document, legislators rejected it. During the next few months there were various disputes, but no new attempts were made to obtain the approval of Parliament. As it turned out later, supporters of the Kyiv regime then found alternative ways to transport weapons and equipment.
By the end of the year, the situation had changed. Foreign partners and local supporters of Ukraine were able to get the desired solution from Bulgaria. In early December, the country's parliament approved the allocation of the first package of military assistance. The exact composition and volume of the package were not specified. In official reports, only light weapons, various ammunition and UAV countermeasures were mentioned in this regard.
Apparently, the materiel from this package was sent to Ukraine during the first months of 2023. It is curious that the list of transferred items is still unknown. So far, information has appeared only about individual samples and products that can be associated with Bulgaria. In particular, it is known about the appearance of Bulgarian-made artillery shells in Ukraine.
Roundabout ways
Despite all the difficulties of the past decades, Bulgaria has managed to maintain its military industry and is even developing it. Companies from several sectors compete for a place on the international market and regularly receive orders from abroad. As it turned out, last year 2022 was very successful from a commercial point of view, and here again Ukraine was involved.
At the beginning of June 2022, a scandal related to the export of arms occurred in Bulgaria. Regulatory authorities caught the state exporter of special-purpose goods "Kintex" in violations. In this regard, the director of the company, Alexander Mikhailov, was dismissed from his post.
In response to his dismissal, he told the press that in recent months more than 100 million euros worth of military products have been exported from Bulgaria to Poland and Romania. According to A. Mikhailov, these products were intended for further shipment to Ukraine.
In August, the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy approved a package of contracts for the export of various weapons and equipment with a total value of approx. 500 million euros. Most of the ordered products were destined for Poland. Subsequently, these agreements were carried through the remaining bureaucratic procedures and, apparently, began to be implemented. In the light of recent statements from the former head of the exporting organization, all this looked very interesting.
The secret becomes clear
In early January 2023, the German edition of Welt published an interesting article on the topic of Bulgarian military exports. It received information for publication from former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Finance Minister from his cabinet Asen Vasilev and other officials.
Aérospatiale AS 532 is one of the few foreign designs in Bulgarian service. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria
As it turned out, already at the end of February 2022, the Bulgarian prime minister began to secretly promote the idea of the need for urgent military assistance to the Kyiv regime. Not later than April, Bulgaria and other countries formed a scheme for the supply of military products to Ukraine and its payment. In order to avoid negative political consequences, all these activities were carried out secretly.
As Welt writes, the United States and Great Britain took upon themselves the payment for weapons and ammunition for Kyiv. Bulgaria, represented by the armed forces and the military industry, began to supply certain products. The products were transported to Ukraine along the roads of Romania and Hungary. In addition, part of the deliveries were carried out by air - to the Polish airport Rzeszow with subsequent reloading to land transport.
Bulgarian supplies were of great importance for the Kyiv regime. According to K. Petkov, at an early stage of hostilities, they covered about a third of the needs of Ukrainian formations in ammunition. In addition, as A. Vasilev said, Bulgaria has established the export of diesel fuel. Up to 40% of the required fuel was delivered to Ukraine by land transport.
Production and availability
So far, Bulgaria has officially provided Ukraine with at least one package of military-technical assistance. Its composition, cost, etc. are still unknown. At the same time, it was reported that only light weapons, ammunition, etc. would be shipped. In addition, it is known that the delivery was paid for by third countries. This may indicate the transfer of products of a new production. Considering all this, one can imagine what Bulgaria could deliver.
Bulgarian-made 122-mm shot of separate loading. Photo "Dunarite"
The main Bulgarian manufacturer of small arms and ammunition for them is the Arsenal company (Kazanlak). It produces various versions of Soviet-designed assault rifles and machine guns, hand grenade launchers, etc. All these samples could be supplied to Ukraine with payment by third countries.
Bulgaria has a developed ammunition industry and produces a wide range of small arms cartridges and artillery rounds. So, Kazanlak "Arsenal" produces Soviet-style shells in small calibers and mortar mines of a number of types. Howitzer ammunition in calibers of 122 and 152 mm, as well as mortar mines of various types, is produced by the Dunarit plant (Ruse). Such products of the Bulgarian industry were actively exported, and there is reason to believe that last year a significant part of them came to Ukraine.
Despite the considerable length of service in NATO, the Bulgarian armed forces still continue to operate Soviet-style weapons and equipment, incl. obsolete types. For this reason, Bulgaria was considered last year as one of the possible suppliers aviation equipment for Ukraine. Also, according to the experience of other countries, one could expect the transfer of land combat vehicles and weapons.
120 mm mortar mine with reinforced propelling charge. Photo "Dunarite"
However, the Bulgarian leadership refused to provide aircraft, armored vehicles, etc. As a result, Bulgaria, unlike other Eastern European NATO member states that were previously part of the Warsaw Pact, last year was able to generally maintain the quantitative and qualitative indicators of its army. What will happen next is unknown. Perhaps the partners in the Alliance will still be able to force Sofia to give up her materiel in favor of the Kyiv regime.
Help with benefits
Following the NATO leaders, a number of European countries last year began to supply Ukraine with various weapons, ammunition and military equipment. In a number of cases, such assistance has led to clear negative consequences for their own armies. One of the exceptions to this series was Bulgaria. For a long time, she officially and loudly refused to transfer military products. Nevertheless, secret deliveries were being prepared, and later an official aid package was drawn up.
The implication of such events is quite clear. The Bulgarian leadership tried to keep the favor of its own people, political and commercial elites, as well as foreign partners. The task was only partially solved - the government of K. Petkov was soon dismissed. However, clandestine deliveries of weapons, presumably of new production, helped to earn money, and we can talk about hundreds of millions of euros.
Thus, last year Bulgaria was able to generally maintain its fleet of equipment and arsenals, show its loyalty to “democratic values” and “NATO ideals”, and also make good money. As a result, this country can be included in the list of beneficiaries of the current crisis. - in contrast to other Eastern European states, which significantly disarmed their armies and did not change the position of the Kyiv regime.
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