site.btaTwo Anti-Drone Systems Expected to Arrive on Saturday, Defence Minister Says

Speaking to reporters in Pleven on Friday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said that two anti-drone systems are expected to arrive on Saturday, but technological time will be needed to train the personnel. "We are in the process of acquiring two more such systems, and I expect us to acquire them by the end of next week," Stoyanov noted, adding that the Defence Ministry was doing everything possible to acquire such systems.

“Full certainty about national security can never exist. I have said more than once that risks to national security exist, but I continue to claim that there is no direct threat to us,” the Minister said.

Asked about the Ukrainian drone that entered Bulgarian airspace on August 8 and exploded 100 metres inside Bulgarian territory, the Minister said Bulgaria had still not received a response from Ukraine. He expressed hope that it would be received as soon as possible, as this would provide objective information.

The response received from the Ukrainian side through a spokesperson was that no drones had been deliberately sent toward Bulgarian territory. “Bulgaria has never claimed otherwise,” Stoyanov added. “So, yes – it is indeed possible that the drone was not deliberately sent toward us; it is possible that there was interference with the GPS system and a failure of the control system,” the Minister said. “I continue to await the Interior Ministry's expert assessment, but the case is already under the jurisdiction of the Military Prosecution Office, so they may be able to provide more comprehensive information,” he added.

Asked about three incidents to which the Bulgarian Navy had responded, the Minister explained that they involved two reconnaissance drones carrying no military payload and a missile engine. “One of the drones, which was found in Primorsko, was a reconnaissance drone without a military component. Most likely, the currents carried it into our waters,” Stoyanov said. “It is a reconnaissance drone which, in my opinion, was used by the Russian armed forces,” the Minister added.

“The other drone was also a reconnaissance drone, carrying no military payload, while the third incident involved some kind of missile engine, which was destroyed by the Bulgarian Navy,” Stoyanov said.

Regarding the situation near Belitsa, the Minister said a state of emergency had been declared and a team had been sent to carry out a comprehensive clean-up of the area.