Bulgaria’s decision to supply Ukraine with Soviet-era military equipment has turned into a financial windfall, with €500 million expected in compensation over the past three years. The boost comes as Sofia races to shrink its budget deficit to 3% of GDP, a key requirement for joining the eurozone by January 2026.
The Bulgarian government has already secured €174 million from Denmark under two military aid agreements. On top of that, Washington and the European Commission are set to contribute another €300 million, helping plug gaps in Bulgaria’s budget. Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov summed it up: “By helping Ukraine, we’re actually helping ourselves.”
Bulgaria has been offloading outdated Soviet-style military gear—equipment that no longer fits the modern needs of its army. In return, NATO allies and the EU are funding upgrades to Western-standard weapons. According to Zapryanov, Bulgaria has already sent six aid packages to Ukraine, including ammunition, armored vehicles, and even faulty air defense missiles—useful for spare parts.
While officials keep the details of shipments under wraps, it’s well known that ammunition and S-300 air defense missiles are among the key supplies. This year alone, Bulgaria shipped 150 armored vehicles and Soviet-made Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers.
Bulgaria remains one of the largest producers and stockpilers of Soviet-style weaponry—exactly what Ukraine needs. While some Bulgarian arms factories are transitioning to NATO-standard production, much of the industry still churns out Soviet-era weapons for export, not just to Ukraine but also to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
In 2023, Bulgaria’s arms sector hit €3.2 billion in turnover, positioning it as a mid-tier global weapons exporter.
Bulgaria’s military aid to Ukraine remains a hot-button issue. Anti-globalist political groups—including President Rumen Radev, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the Vazrazhdane party—have fiercely opposed the arms transfers. Vazrazhdane, notably, aligns with Germany’s AfD in the European Parliament.
However, pro-Brussels voices see it differently. MP Ivaylo Mirchev put it bluntly: “Bulgaria is cashing in hundreds of millions for old, rusty weapons.” And with eurozone membership on the horizon, the financial incentive might be too good for Sofia to ignore.
