site.btaBulgarian Politicians Offer Further Comments on Russian Drone Incursion into Polish Airspace

On Thursday, Bulgarian politicians continued commenting on Wednesday's Russian drone violation of Polish airspace. 

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov condemned the unprovoked violation of Polish airspace. "Our position is clear and aligned with that of our allies. We express the Alliance's determination to take all the necessary measures foreseen by the NATO Treaty," he said.

Zhelyazkov described the incident as an unnecessary provocation, adding: "This does nothing to calm the situation between Russia and EU Member States. It strengthens the arguments around which the Coalition of the Willing unites – that Europe needs robust security guarantees to show that the Union has the defence capability to deter aggression and provocations." At present, there are no indications that Article 5 of the NATO Treaty will be invoked, he emphasized.

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev stressed that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, NATO's actions have been directed solely towards preventing further escalation, safeguarding the international legal order, ending the aggression, and upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state that had been unjustifiably attacked.

Georgiev underscored that invoking Article 4 of the NATO Treaty does not signify an involvement in war. He explained that partners and allies remain in constant communication and said the Alliance is in no way discussing a provocation of aggression. He added that while he hoped the end of the bloodshed was near, it was evident that the Russian Federation had no desire for peace.

Georgiev further remarked that any violation of a country's air sovereignty could be regarded as a provocation. Finally, he expressed Bulgaria's solidarity with Poland.

Hristo Gadzhev, Chair of the parliamentary Defence Committee, called the recent incursion of drones into Polish airspace an "absolutely unprovoked escalation of relations and tension" by the Russian Federation, warning that such actions risk further destabilizing the situation in Europe. Speaking to reporters in Parliament on Thursday, Gadzhev stressed that "NATO and all member states stand ready to defend the Alliance's territory".

"The important thing is that it became clear NATO's air defence and early-warning systems are functioning effectively," Gadzhev said. He noted that the Alliance had managed to respond decisively, and through the joint efforts of the Allies, neutralized all aerial targets that entered Polish airspace and posed a threat. According to him, such actions by Russia can only serve to further escalate the conflict.

Ivaylo Mirchev MP of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria commented that Bulgaria is at a greater risk than Poland because Russian drones can reach this country. "We must stop thinking that the conflict is away from us. Europe must oppose the Russian aggression: this is an exceedingly dangerous and deliberate action provoked by Putin," he added.

Asked to comment on the downed Russian drones that had entered Polish territory, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said the situation was definitely becoming tense. According to him, one cannot speak of Russian drones because they have a limited range.

On Wednesday, President Rumen Radev, the Foreign Ministry and Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov reacted to the airspace violation.