site.btaPresident Radev: War in Ukraine Is War of Attrition of Various Systems

President Rumen Radev said in a speech on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine is a war of attrition of various systems. "This conflict is a test for our ability to employ critical thinking, use an analytical approach and analyze all factors which make the difference between success and failure," Radev said. He noted: "Success will be with those who have a clear idea about the reality that awaits them and the situation in which they will act. This complex and dynamic geopolitical environment holds many challenges to national and collective security."

The President was speaking at a ceremony at Sofia's Rakovski National Defence College, during which Class of 2024 received their graduation diplomas.

He noted that the Ukraine war has influenced all processes in the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, including the deliberations on tactics and doctrine, modernization and building up-to-date defence capabilities.

"This war has sobered us into realizing that technology is not a prerequisite for success. The war has shown that the most important prerequisite for success is the human factor, the availability, training, morale and motivation of people," Radev said.

"In times of disaster, the people look to their armed forces for help," he noted, and went on to discuss the need to adjust incomes and to address the shortage of personnel in the military.

Commenting on an idea to buy airplanes for the Ministry of Interior to combat wildfires, the President said it is not wise to pour so much money into that ministry for equipment and training which is necessary for just two months a year. He called for a statesmanlike approach to the spending of every lev.

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said the military is acquiring new equipment, but there need to be people to operate it. "We are living in challenging times," Zapryanov said.

Chief of Defence Adm. Emil Eftimov said the Armed Forces need critically thinking officers. He said: "We are witnessing unprecedented change. Artificial intelligence is poised to change the nature of military conflicts. We need to build defence of a new generation."

New aircraft is expected next year, new ships are under construction, and work is underway to supply new drones and materiel for the Land Forces, Eftimov said.

Ongoing military conflicts have altered training programmes. NATO membership is a guarantee for Bulgaria's national security, he said.