Bulgaria Begins Construction of NATO Base in Kabile to Strengthen Eastern Flank – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

The construction of a NATO military base near the village of Kabile in Yambol Province has officially begun, following approval by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers. The project comes after the government signed a draft agreement with Italy for the joint construction and use of military facilities within the Kabile military district. The base is designed to host the multinational battle group Read more

VMZ-Sopot and Rheinmetall to Jointly Produce NATO 155 mm Shells in Bulgaria – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

VMZ-Sopot, Bulgaria’s state-owned arms manufacturer, is set to partner with Rheinmetall, the largest defense company in Europe, for the joint production of NATO-standard 155 mm artillery shells on Bulgarian territory. The details are outlined in a recent government assignment, as reported by Bulgarian National Radio. The plan involves forming a consortium in which Bulgaria will contribute Read more

Zapad-25: Comprehensive Details of the Russia-Belarus Military Exercise

Zapad-25 is a major joint strategic military exercise between Russia and Belarus scheduled for mid-September 2025, marking the first large-scale Russia-Belarus military drill since the 2021 exercises that preceded Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Exercise Overview and Timeline The exercise is set to take place from September 12-16, 2025, representing the main stage Read more

Bulgarian Troops Depart for NATO Mission in Kosovo – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

A Bulgarian military contingent is departing to take part in NATO‘s Stabilization Force operation in Kosovo, it was announced during a formal ceremony held in Shumen on August 7. Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Mikhail Popov addressed the troops, reminding them of the dual responsibility they carry – representing Bulgaria to NATO allies and embodying NATO in Read more

Bulgaria’s First ‘Stryker’ Armored Vehicles Enter Production Ahead of 61st Brigade Deployment – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

The production of Bulgaria’s first “Stryker” armored combat vehicles for the Land Forces is underway and progressing according to the planned timeline, Brigadier General Stoyan Shopov, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces, confirmed in an interview with the “Bulgarian Army” newspaper. The vehicles are expected to be transported to the TEREM plant by Read more

Bulgaria Taps Massive EU Loan to Supercharge Military Support for Ukraine – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria has joined eight other European nations in formally applying for low-interest loans from the European Union to jointly purchase weapons. These arms will serve dual purposes: supporting Ukraine and upgrading the military capabilities of the participating countries themselves. The deadline for submitting applications to the EU’s new financing tool, SAFE (Security Action for Europe), ended yesterday. SAFE offers Read more

Russia Accuses Bulgaria of Arms Smuggling from Ukraine – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

At a recent briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Bulgaria, alongside Poland, Finland, and Romania, of taking part in the smuggling of Western weapons from Ukraine. She claimed this illicit trade is tightly controlled by organized crime groups, supported by corrupt officials. Zakharova detailed that weapons are trafficked out of Ukraine through multiple routes, involving Read more

NATO Praises Bulgaria’s Commitment, Backs Upgrade of Battle Group to Brigade Level – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria remains firmly committed to NATO’s efforts to boost its collective defense capabilities, particularly in the Black Sea region. At a joint press conference held at the Novo Selo training area, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov confirmed Bulgaria’s full support for the Alliance’s new goal of raising defense investment to 5% of GDP by 2035. According to Eftimov, Read more

Bulgaria Links Defense Modernization with Economic Stimulus – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria is moving forward with plans to modernize its armed forces, with significant investments expected to benefit not only national defense but also the broader economy. According to Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, the Ministries of Defense and Finance are in the final stages of analyzing the potential use of the European SAFE instrument as a financial mechanism for these Read more