As reported by BTA on December 7, 2023, the Bulgarian parliamentary defense committee voted to supply Ukraine with malfunctioning anti-aircraft missile systems and various types of anti-aircraft missiles. The decision, with 11 votes in favor, four against, and one abstention, has generated discussions within Bulgaria’s political landscape.
As of the available information up to 2022, the surface-to-air missile systems equipment within Bulgarian Forces comprises various systems, including the 9K32 Strela (SA-7 Grail), 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko), S-200 (SA-5 Gammon), S-300PMU (SA-10 Grumble), S-125M Neva-M (SA-3 Goa), and 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful).
This move is part of a broader proposal for increased military support to Ukraine, jointly presented by political groups GERB-SDS, “Continuing Change – Democratic Bulgaria,” and DPS. The proposal primarily focuses on identifying surplus armaments and equipment within Bulgaria’s inventory to equip Ukraine’s wartime units adequately. It also calls for diplomatic negotiations with NATO allies to explore the possibility of deploying allied anti-aircraft and coastal anti-ship missile systems on Bulgarian soil to enhance the country’s defense capabilities.
Additionally, the proposal instructs the Ministry of Defense to take steps to join a coalition of nations aimed at improving the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force, particularly in the use of F-16 aircraft, enabling joint training and Ukrainian military access to Bulgarian airspace.
In a notable provision, the draft decision authorizes the temporary presence of up to four infantry/mechanized companies annually on Bulgarian territory for training purposes, comprising a maximum of 160 Ukrainian military personnel.