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the military profession is unattractive due to the hardships and deprivations, the risks, the poor conditions and the outdated weaponry," the document states. 1/4 of the candidates for military service fail to meet the required standards during the medical examinations.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

PM Rosen Zhelyazkov

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to participate in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the social network "X" that he had a phone conversation with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, who confirmed his participation in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit, the BNR's "Horizont"..

published on 5/31/25 9:59 AM

Demonstrations against euro adoption will take place across Bulgaria and abroad

Protests in defence of the Bulgarian lev and against the adoption of the euro currency are scheduled to take place on May 31 in many cities and towns across the country today.   In Sofia, the protest is planned to start at 12:00 in front of the..

published on 5/31/25 9:35 AM

Weather forecast: Sun and rain on Saturday

Saturday will get off to a sunny start in Eastern and in some isolated regions of Western Bulgaria. Over the rest of the country there will be considerable clouds. There will be rain over Central Bulgaria and over the Western half of the country...

published on 5/30/25 6:45 PM