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

Defense Minister: Reinstatement of mandatory service could be on the agenda if vacancies in the army are not filled

Photo: BTA

For now, we do not envisage and do not propose to the Bulgarian parliament to return the conscription military service, Caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov told BNR. He expressed the hope that with the increase in the salaries of the military personnel from next year, the interest in the army will also increase in order to fill the vacant positions.

"In this way, we stimulate voluntary military service", emphasized the minister. However, he specified that if the measure does not lead to a change in the near future, the issue of the return of mandatory military service may be on the agenda in Bulgaria as well.

Minimum defense spending should rise to 2.5% of the GDP, said Atanas Zapryanov. "The Russian aggression against Ukraine generates a need for much greater capabilities and this leads to an increase in military spending in some countries," he reasoned.

Regarding the military aid we provide to Ukraine, the minister said that all the necessary armaments and equipment for our army is available. 



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

Ukrainian crew rescued from sinking ship in the Black Sea

The crew of a cargo ship sailing under the flag of Cameroon with 10 Ukrainian sailors on board was rescued in an operation led by the Maritime Coordination Center in Varna, its head Rumen Nikolov announced. The ship "EILEEN" sank..

published on 10/13/25 9:43 AM

Prime Minister asks municipalities for support in introduction of the euro

The main political war being waged in Bulgaria is related to the geopolitical orientation of the country in the future. This was what Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in a speech at the opening of the Annual Meeting of the National Association of..

published on 10/13/25 8:50 AM
Christo Grozev

Bulgaria's Christo Grozev receives European Journalist of the Year award at PRIX EUROPA festival

Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev was honored as European Journalist of the Year at the official ceremony of the PRIX EUROPA festival in Berlin. Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev named European Journalist of the..

published on 10/11/25 9:44 AM