site.btaDefence Minister Tagarev on Russia's Decision to Suspend Spare Parts Supply to Bulgaria, Other Nations That Supply Weapons to Ukraine

There are isolated cases in which Bulgarian companies work with licenses to manufacture or repair Russian defence equipment, Defence Minister Todor Tagarev told journalists on Tuesday. In these isolated cases, the enterprises are looking for alternative sources of know-how, the minister noted. In his words, Russia has much bigger claims that are not recognized and will not be recognized by the Bulgarian state.

Earlier on Tuesday, Dmitry Shugayev, the Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told Russia's Interfax news agency that Russia is suspending the supply of spares and is revoking the repair licences for "unfriendly countries" which are supplying arms to Ukraine. 

"In particular, enterprises are having their licenses for the right to repair Russian/Soviet-made military equipment revoked. For example, a number of enterprises located in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have had their licenses to repair Mi helicopters revoked," Shugayev said at the Army-2023 forum.

"Supplies of spare parts and components for aircraft and other Russian/Soviet-made equipment located in unfriendly countries have also been stopped," Shugayev added.