Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

2023 Defense Status Report: Bulgarian army faces staffing shortages

Photo: armymedia.bg

Urgent measures are needed to prepare the reserve in peacetime, recommends the 2023 Defense Status Report. The document has been adopted by the government and tabled in parliament for approval. Within a year, she staffing shortage in the army increased from 19% to 21%. The shortage of officers is 26% and the shortage of sailors is 27%. The voluntary reserve is only 16%. In 15 years, the reserve will be completely depleted, the report reads. It recommends a public debate on the possible introduction of compulsory military training.

 Among the reasons for the shortage of military personnel are "malicious information campaigns regarding Russia's war against Ukraine." "For the majority of young people, the military profession is unattractive due to the hardships and deprivations, the risks, the poor conditions and the outdated weaponry," the document states. 1/4 of the candidates for military service fail to meet the required standards during the medical examinations.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Temperatures will rise at the end of the week

On Saturday, minimum temperatures will range from 13 to 19 °C . In Sofia, it will be 15 °C. Sunny weather will prevail with temporary cloud cover increasing in the afternoon. Maximum temperatures will rise to between 28 and 33 °C. In the capital, it will..

published on 7/11/25 7:25 PM

Robotic surgery factory opens in Parvomay

A global leader in the production of robotic and minimally invasive surgical equipment has officially opened a new manufacturing facility in Parvomay , Plovdiv Province, as part of its planned expansion in Europe, BNR Plovdiv reports. The American..

published on 7/11/25 4:52 PM

President requests inquiry into missed benefits in Botas contract

'It is blatantly untrue that the contract with the Turkish state-owned company Botas is not being put into use." President Rumen Radev stated this to journalists at the Krumovo Air Base. The terminal in Alexandroupolis has not been operational..

published on 7/11/25 3:51 PM