Bulgaria Boosts Military Aid to Ukraine Despite Presidential Opposition

Lawmakers override veto to supply Soviet-era equipment and allow use of airspace for training, marking a policy shift under new pro-Western government.

Bulgarian parliament approves additional military aid to Ukraine, including defective and redundant anti-aircraft systems and surface-to-air missiles.
Bulgaria also allows the use of its airspace for training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots and up to four rotating infantry or mechanized Ukrainian army units of up to 160 people per year to transit or stay in Bulgaria for training.
Lawmakers override a veto by the country’s pro-Russian president on providing Ukraine with 100 Soviet-era armored personnel carriers and available armament, as well as spare parts.
President Rumen Radev has repeatedly opposed Bulgaria’s military aid for Ukraine, claiming that sending Soviet-era equipment to Ukraine would diminish Bulgaria’s own defense capability and “would risk involving Bulgaria in the war.”
The decisions mark a turnaround in Bulgaria’s policy on sending military equipment to Kyiv following the appointment of a new, pro-Western government.