site.btaUkrainian Embassy Did Not Confirm Interest in Surplus Mi-24 Helicopters, Defence Minister Says

The Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia has not confirmed interest in the surplus Mi-24 helicopters offered by Bulgaria, outgoing Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said here on Friday. He addressed Parliament, answering a question from Hristo Gadzhev MP of GERB-UDF on Ukraine's request for these helicopter gunships as military aid.

Tagarev said that after a letter was received on January 4, 2024, the Ukrainian Embassy was contacted and their experts were familiarized with the technical condition of the five surplus Mi-24 helicopters owned by Bulgaria. By a subsequent letter, the Embassy did not confirm interest in the offered aircraft, the outgoing Defence Minister specified. 

Gadzhev also enquired about Ukraine's request for the supply of anti-aircraft defence systems. Tagarev said that the Defence Staff had analyzed the options for the provision of the systems and articles requested by Ukraine and determined what nomenclatures and quantities of defence products could be supplied without this leading to loss of defence capabilities and affecting adversely the training and accomplishment of the missions of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

The minister said that the lists of defence products for supply to Ukraine are annexed to two Bulgarian Council of Ministers Decisions, No. 776 of February 22, 2023 and No. 134 of February 23, 2024. He added that the defence products under Decision No. 776 had already been made available to Ukraine, and those under Decision No. 134 are prepared and, as scheduled, will be shipped before the end of April.