Bulgaria to Receive Compensation for Military Aid to Ukraine
The European news site Euractiv reported on February 7 that Bulgaria will receive around 500 million euros ($519.5 million) from Kyiv’s biggest donors as compensation for its military aid to Ukraine.
This money is in addition to the 174 million euros ($180 million) Bulgaria has already received from Denmark under two contracts related to military aid for Ukraine. The country expects to receive at least another 300 million euros ($311 million) from the US and the European Commission as compensation for sending military equipment to Kyiv.
Bulgaria has provided Ukraine with old Soviet-era military equipment, which was purchased using funds from NATO and EU allies. The country had already sent six military aid packages, including ammunition, armored vehicles, and defective air defense missiles that can be used for spare parts.
According to Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, the military aid includes a significant portion of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine’s S-300 air defense systems. In 2024, Bulgaria also sent 150 armored vehicles and Soviet-made “Gvozdika” self-propelled howitzers.
Despite the financial and strategic benefits for Bulgaria’s military, pro-Russian forces in the country continue to oppose sending aid to Ukraine. Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Bulgaria’s pro-Russian Revival party, has echoed Kremlin narratives on January 11, claiming that Southern Bessarabia, part of Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast, should be “returned” to Bulgaria.
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