Bulgaria has sent self-propelled artillery pieces "Gvozdika" to Ukraine. This was stated by the Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov at the opening of the academic year 2024/2025 for students at the Rakovski National Defence College, BGNES reported.
The weaponry in question is no longer necessary for the Bulgarian army and Bulgaria will be financially compensated. The money will be reinvested in the modernisation of ground troops and other types of armed forces. Bulgaria will benefit from the Common European Initiative for the acquisition of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers.
"We have stopped the outflow of officers. In terms of admissions to military schools, there is growth, but we strive for 100% filling of positions for cadets," Zapryanov also said.
The minister also commented on Belgrade's shock rearmament with new Russian and Western weapons. "I have no concerns about the rearmament of Serbia with French fighter jets," he said, referring to the recent purchase of Rafale fighter jets by Aleksandar Vucic's regime.
"Bulgaria is a NATO member. Our defence is guaranteed by the allies, so whatever defence capabilities any country has are far from the Alliance's capabilities, including ours. Next year we will receive the first eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft, and subsequently the other eight. We are also carrying out rearmament, this is a normal process," he said in response to a question from BGNES.
Asked if there is any concern about danger to Balkan countries that are not NATO and EU members, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zapryanov said:
"I have none. In the Balkans we are building a policy of good neighbourliness, trust, we are holding joint exercises. Let's not forget that BiH and Serbia are members of the NATO Partnership for Peace, let's not create suggestions and suspicions because they (the Serbs) would say the same thing about our rearmament."
The official ceremony today was also attended by Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, senior officers of the Bulgarian Army and guests. I BGNES
