Bulgaria through intermediaries sold weapons to Ukraine for 1 billion euros - euractiv

Over the past two years, Bulgaria has transferred weapons to Ukraine for $ 1 billion through other countries. In the fall, journalists became aware that Bulgarian companies had supplied weapons from the first days of a full -scale invasion. It did not require the use of export control commission for supply permission.

Now journalists became aware that before the war from the beginning of 2021 to February 24, 2022 there were no direct agreements between Ukraine and Bulgarian weapons companies that produce weapons of Soviet calibers. However, in 2022, Bulgaria indirectly exported weapons to Ukraine worth at least $ 1 billion. There were record sales abroad, mainly to Poland and Romania, from where weapons came to Ukraine.

In Bulgaria, then Minister of Economy Cornelia Ninova opposed the export of weapons and threatened to ban any direct supply. In July 2022, her government resigned and only since the end of 2022 the Parliament voted for the direct supply of weapons. "Bulgarian weapons do not sell weapons and ammunition directly to Ukrainian companies, because there is practice when it is happening through foreign programs. There is a program with good funding in the United Kingdom, the USA and Poland.

This program is purchased for Ukraine, that is, not Ukrainian money for Ukraine , and British, American, Polish or European, " - said the former Acting. Defense Minister Velyamar Shalamanov. According to the results, some Bulgarian enterprises recorded 100% growth of sales. We will remind, on February 23 NYT reported that the Ministry of Defense of Britain created a secret group for the purchase of 122 mm ammunition for the Ukrainian army.