site.btaEleven Public Organizations of Bulgarian Community in Ukraine Get Financial Support from Bulgaria

Eleven public organizations of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine have received financial assistance from Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Svetoslav Ivanov, Consul General of Bulgaria in Odesa, told BTA.

The funding is provided under a Cabinet decree of October 30, 2025, which allocates extra funds to the Foreign Ministry's budget, and under a programme for support of organizations of the Bulgarian communities in Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Ukraine and Moldova, and of the Republic of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-awareness.

"This is the second round of assistance this year. A month and a half ago, support was provided under the media programme to counter disinformation, in line with a cabinet decision, under which two projects were funded. One is of the Congress of Bulgarians in Ukraine, aimed at creating a YouTube-style digital guide for combating fake news. The second project is about converting the Roden Krai newspaper into a digital edition, and we expect it to start functioning very soon," said Ivanov.

"The project currently being implemented falls under the support programme for historic Bulgarian communities in Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-awareness. The government decision dates from October 30. We conducted a brief information campaign, and around 20 project proposals were submitted by the Consulate General in Odesa and the Embassy in Kyiv. It was the first time we have had so many proposals," Ivanov explained.

According to him, the Foreign Ministry approved 11 projects for Ukraine worth a total of BGN 392,734. Of these, eight are for the Consulate General in Odesa and three for the Embassy in Kyiv. "This is understandable, as the Bulgarian diaspora is primarily concentrated here in Odesa Region, where around 150,000 Bulgarians live," Ivanov said.

He noted that the financial support is directed towards investments in, and support for, Bulgarian Sunday schools, allowing improvements to the infrastructure and equipment, including the purchase of multimedia equipment, computers and other aids for teaching the Bulgarian language, history and geography. Funds have also been allocated to Ukrainian state schools that host Bulgarian Sunday schools. This is a very significant contribution to the education system, he said.

For the first time, a project proposal for the Bolhrad high school has been approved. It includes the establishment of a press centre, improvements to the infrastructure and equipment, and new equipment. The high school in Bolhrad has historical ties with Bulgaria and has contributed to the development of many people who played significant roles in Bulgaria's history, Ivanov said.

Funding has also been provided for equipment purchases for Bulgarian language classrooms in the Sunday schools in the villages of Kalcheva, Nahirne, Kulevcha, Orikhivka and Delzhyler.

Support has been allocated to the Bulgarian organization in Kamchik, which will carry out a project to establish technological Bulgarian language classrooms in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, Ivanov added.

The Consul General stressed that the projects target a wide social group, aiming to reach as many children and young people with Bulgarian self-awareness as possible. None of the initiatives benefit an individual or a single organization; instead, they cover multiple areas with Bulgarian communities, supporting Sunday schools and fostering education. "This is an investment in young people who, I hope, will contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction after the war," he added.