Bulgarian Parliament approves donation of 100 APCs to Ukraine.

As reported by BTA on November 22, 2023, the Bulgarian National Assembly ratified an agreement between the Bulgarian Interior Ministry and Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence. This agreement initially signed in Sofia on August 8 and later in Kyiv on November 13, involves the donation of 100 armored personnel carriers (APCs), along with corresponding armaments and spare parts, free of charge, to Ukraine.
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Bulgarian Armed Forces still use several Soviet-era armored personnel carriers, such as this BTR-60 seen in a 2018 joint exercise with the US Army. (Picture source: US DoD)

The decision to provide these APCs originated from the surplus within the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, as outlined in a report by the parliamentary Defence Committee. These vehicles, no longer required for domestic purposes, were deemed suitable for repurposing and donation to Ukraine.

During the parliamentary vote, 131 Members of Parliament expressed their support for the agreement. However, 49 members, primarily from BSP for Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane, opposed the decision, while one representative chose to abstain. The voting process was preceded by nearly two hours of rigorous debate within the assembly.

Boyko Borisov, the leader of GERB, made statements on social media, citing previous instances, such as providing missiles and ammunition in September, highlighting the significance of the parliamentary vote as a continuation of Bulgaria's support for Ukraine. As reported by Army Recognition on September 28, 2023, Bulgaria’s Parliament voted behind closed doors to supply unserviceable S-300 missiles to Ukraine.

The Defense Commission's report clarified that the agreement entails providing Ukraine with armored personnel carriers, including available armaments and spare parts. This aligns with the broader strategy of repurposing surplus assets no longer needed by the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs for domestic use.

However, the parliamentary discussions faced strong opposition from some members. Borislav Gutsanov from BSP for Bulgaria criticized what he perceived as a lack of military expertise among parliamentarians and described the decision as a matter of concern for the state.

Kostadin Kostadinov, chairman of PG "Vazrazhdane," raised questions about the financial implications for Bulgaria, suggesting that the armored personnel carriers, with minimal usage and preservation, could be valued at approximately one billion BGN (approximately $560 million).

The debates also witnessed tense exchanges. Hristo Gadjev from GERB-SDS clarified that the equipment in question falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ensuring that the Ministry of Defence retains its necessary armored resources. Jeyhan Ibryamov from DPS urged against political hysteria, emphasizing the pragmatic nature of Bulgaria's contribution and the need to avoid artificially alarming Bulgarian society.

Ivaylo Mirchev from the PP-DB countered claims made during the debate, asserting that the donated equipment had not been used for 40 years. He dismissed the notion that the equipment's value amounted to one billion BGN, characterizing it as a matter of debate. Mirchev underscored the importance of EU compensation for military donations and highlighted Ukraine's substantial purchases from Bulgaria in various sectors. As reported by Army Recognition on August 16, 2023, the example of the BRDM-2 'Vovkulaka' demonstrates, if necessary, that the Ukrainians will likely have no problem getting these Bulgarian vehicles back into combat conditions.