site.btaRussia Sets Up Temporary Warning Zone in Black Sea Affecting Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone - Defence Ministry

Bulgaria has received notification from Russia about the establishment of a temporary warning area in the Black Sea for the duration of military exercises, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry told BTA Thursday. It said that the zone includes parts of Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone but “there is no reason for concern and the exercise will be conducted away from Bulgaria's territorial waters”.

BTA approached the Ministry to comment a press release by NATO on July 26, after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, saying that “Russia’s new warning area in the Black Sea, within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation.” 

The Bulgarian Defence Ministry said that while “these actions by Russia do not constitute formal violation of the international rules, they are not considered good practice and Bulgaria and its allies continue their regular surveillance activity in the NATO area of responsibility in keeping with the decision of the Alliance”. 

Deputy Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told reporters that Russia is free to ship in the said area but cannot engage in embargo operations and impede shipping by other countries.

He believes that Russia is trying to prevent the export of grain from Ukraine and increase its stake in the grain deal so as to make things harder for Ukraine. “There will likely be efforts to bring Russia back to the deal but that is something for the UN to do – not NATO,” Zapryanov added.