Defense Minister: Bulgaria Should Train 60 Ukrainian Troops as Medics

Jerusalem, 15 November, 2022 (TPS) -- SOFIA, 15.11.2022 (BTA)
Bulgaria expressed readiness to participate in the EU mission to train the Ukrainian military, the caretaker Minister of Defense Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday. Stoyanov proposed that four groups of 15 Ukrainian soldiers be trained as medics at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia.

Stoyanov was in the Belgian capital for a forum of the EU Ministers of Defense.

The Minister specified that Bulgaria will contribute with personnel and equipment for the training of the Ukrainian armed forces. He pointed out that it is yet to be clarified what equipment will be provided. According to him, the assessment of this matter will be completed by the end of the week.

Asked about allegations that the Netherlands is willing to provide Bulgaria with F-16 aircraft in exchange for the MiG-29’s of the Bulgarian Air Force, Stoyanov stated that a letter was sent to the Dutch state in June, asking whether it could these machines. The answer at the time was that the Netherlands had no possibility to provide F-16s to Bulgaria. “I had a meeting with the Dutch Defense Minister. They expressed readiness to help train our pilots for the F-16,” Stoyanov said.

According to Stoyanov, the MiG-29 are expected to remain in service until the end of 2023. “After that, I am skeptical that we can keep them operational,” the Defense Minister added.