site.btaRotation of Italian Contingent of Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria Takes Place at Novo Selo Training Ground

The Italian contingent of NATO’s Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria was rotated in a solemn ceremony at the Novo Selo training area, the press centre of the Defence Ministry reported on Thursday. The previous commander of the battlegroup, Colonel Andrea Fraticelli, handed over command to Colonel Michelangelo Genchi.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Tanko Stoykov, Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces Command Brigadier General Hristo Ganetsovski, Italy’s Deputy Commander of the Joint Operational Command Lieutenant General Nicola Lanza de Cristoforis, Commander of the Multinational Division Southeast in Romania Major General Dorin Toma and other senior officers of the Bulgarian and Italian Land Forces.

"The Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria shows our determination to defend our national interests and the shared responsibility to ensure the defence of the Alliance's territory and population in response to any aggression. Joint training and exercises in support of the previous NATO deployment gave our military formations experience that leads to enhanced capabilities and interoperability," Ganetsovski said in his address to the servicemen. He thanked them for their dedication, their service for the security of all NATO member states.

By order of the Defence Minister Todor Tagarev, servicemen from the Multinational Battlegroup were awarded for the professional performance of their tasks, for their contribution to the security of the NATO’s South-Eastern flank and to the security of Bulgaria. The awards were presented by Stoykov. Italian Pinerolo Mechanized Brigade Commander Brigadier General Paolo Sandri and the previous Commander of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria, Colonel Andrea Fraticelli, were awarded with the Sign of Honour "For Contribution to the Ministry of Defence". The Deputy Commander of the Multinational Battlegroup, Lieutenant Colonel Velin Kehayov, was awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal - II degree for officers.

Italy’s official assumption of command over the Bulgaria-based multinational battlegroup was held on October 17, 2022. The upgrade of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup on Bulgarian territory to a brigade was discussed by Minister of Defence Todor Tagarev and Greek Ambassador Alexios Liberopoulos on July 17.