site.btaTop Brass: Ins and Outs

Meeting on Wednesday, Bulgaria's Council of Ministers adopted decisions proposing to President Rumen Radev, who is also Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to appoint and release senior military officers, the Government Information Service said.

One proposal is for Brigadier General Nikolay Rusev to be released as Commander of the 3rd Air Base and to be appointed Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force and to be promoted to the rank of major general, effective April 1, 2025.

By another decision, Major General Dimitar Petrov is to be released as Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force and from military service, effective April 1, 2025, by reason of his request for retirement.

Colonel Metodi Orlov is recommended for appointment as acting Commander of the 3rd Air Base for a period not exceeding one year.

The President has been asked to decree the release of Brigadier General Ivan Malamov as Commandant of the Vasil Levski National Military University, effective April 1, 2025, and his replacement by Colonel Stancho Kaykov, who is to be promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

Brigadier General Mitko Grigorov is to be released as director of the Defence Ministry Logistics Directorate, effective April 1, 2025, and to be appointed Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Greece (NRDC-GR) headquartered in Greece. Grigorov is to be promoted to the rank of major general, effective August 1, 2025. Major General Valentin Krastev is to be released as Deputy Commander of NRDC-GR, effective August 1, 2025.

Brigadier General Todor Todorov is to be released as Commander of the Logistics Support Command and to be appointed Director of the Defence Ministry Logistics Directorate, effective April 1, 2025.

Colonel Nikolay Kebapchiev is to be appointed Commander of the Logistics Support Command and to be promoted to the rank of brigadier general, effective April 1, 2025.

Flotilla Admiral Velko Velkov is to be released as Commander of the Bulgarian Navy's flotilla of combat and auxiliary ships and from military service, effective April 1, 2025, and to be replaced by Navy Captain Radko Penev, who is to be promoted to the rank of flotilla admiral.