Bulgaria was accused of supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons worth $1 billion through third countries

Over the past two years, Bulgaria has supplied more than a billion dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine through third countries. This conclusion was reached by the journalists of the portal Euractiv after the investigation.

It is indicated that the sale of weapons to Kyiv began before the start of the Russian special operation and contrary to the position of the Sofia authorities. It also turned out that Bulgarian companies were engaged in the sale of weapons to clients from Ukraine through foreign companies. Former member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Velizare Shalamanov explained that the supply of arms was mainly funded by the UK, Poland and the United States.

Euractiv drew attention to the fact that in 2022 the arms industry in Bulgaria recorded a record increase in sales abroad, including to Poland and Romania, from where the weapons then came to Ukraine. Thus, the largest Bulgarian arms factories reported a 100% increase in sales, and the value of the arms export permits issued by the country since February last year exceeded one billion euros.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria, at the request of the portal, emphasized that no applications for transactions with Ukrainian companies and state institutions were received for consideration by the export control commission.

It should be noted that Bulgaria is one of the largest producers of Soviet-style weapons and ammunition, which are used by the army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly emphasized that any shipments of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine would be a legitimate target for the Russian Aerospace Forces. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the supply of weapons would not stop, but would prolong the conflict in Ukraine, and called the position of Western countries “harmful” and “counterproductive.”

Russian special operation to protect Donbass

Recall that on February 17, 2022, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics announced an aggravation of the situation. The republics announced the evacuation of civilians.

On February 21, the leaders of the Donbass republics turned to Russian leader Vladimir Putin with a request to recognize the independence of the DNR and LNR. The head of state held a meeting of the Security Council, after which he announced the recognition of the republics. Friendship and cooperation agreements were also signed with the independent Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. The State Duma and the Federation Council ratified these agreements.

On February 23, the heads of the DPR and LPR appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to help repel Ukraine’s aggression in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and civilian casualties.

On February 24, the Russian leader addressed the nation and announced the start of a special operation in Ukraine to protect Donbass.

On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions signed agreements on the entry of these regions into the Russian Federation.