Bulgaria to join initiative to provide 1 million ammunition and shells to Ukraine

A decision of the Council of Ministers is being prepared for Bulgaria's participation in the EU initiative to provide 1 million ammunition and shells to Ukraine, funded through the European Peace Initiative, Deputy Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, said on June 19.

The EU initiative, in which only Bulgaria and militarily neutral Ireland do not participate, was announced in March and finalised in May, but Bulgaria abstained from participation. The EU is allocating €2 billion for the purpose.

It is not yet clear when the decision will be voted on, but through it Bulgaria will notify the EU of its wish to join. The aim of the initiative is to provide 155 mm shells to NATO standard.

Bulgaria does not have such shells and weapon systems, but is planning a project to modernise and purchase such artillery.

The news comes against the backdrop of a memorandum signed a few days ago in Brussels on participation in NATO's Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative (MAWI), which allows the stockpiling of prepositioned stock in member countries, with one of the highlights of the programme being the deployment of such for the purposes of the 8 Battalion Battle Groups on the Eastern Flank.

The deployment of ammunition and munitions will take place on the basis of bilateral agreements between the member states and will be on a voluntary basis. The NATO multinational battle group in Bulgaria is led by Italy.