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Bulgaria to send its first military aid to Ukraine, list classified – media
KYIV. Dec 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Bulgarian parliament approved on Friday a list of weapons to be sent to Ukraine as aid for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Reuters reports.
"The list of arms is classified, but government officials have said Sofia would mainly send light weaponry and ammunition," the report notes.
A total of 148 lawmakers from the 240-seat parliament voted to send the aid on Friday, with the Socialists and the pro-Russian Revival party voting against.
Caretaker defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov said Bulgaria, a NATO member, could not afford to send its Russian-made anti-aircraft missile systems or MIG-19 and SU-25 fighter jets, which Kyiv wants.
"My approach has been conservative, because I need to ensure the defence capabilities of Bulgaria. The aid is fully in line with Ukraine’s priorities, but we are not sending S-300 systems, nor MIG-29 or SU-25 aircraft," Stoyanov told Nova TV on Friday.
It is noted that Bulgaria has not been sending arms to Ukraine, its arms manufacturers have seen a surge in exports, a report by the Bulgarian Industrial Association showed in November. In August, the economy ministry approved arms export deals worth more than BGN 1 billion ($540.22 million), most of which were destined for Poland – one of the key hubs for sending weapons to Ukraine.
According to Reuters, Bulgaria had been one of the few EU countries not to send aid after the Russia-friendly Socialist party, a coalition partner in the previous government, blocked a previous proposal in May.
