Atanas Zapryanov

Acting Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov has expressed support for the US President Donald Trump's goal of increasing defense spending for NATO member states to 2.4% of GDP, emphasizing that this target is both necessary and realistic.

At the Novo Selo training ground today, Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov affirmed that the recent command and staff exercise showcased the NATO Multinational Battlegroup's preparedness to scale up to brigade level if required for Bulgaria's defense.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has called for a comprehensive analysis following the recent inspection by the Ministry of Defense concerning the fighter jet crash that occurred a month ago, which resulted in the deaths of both pilots.

Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev announced that the entire barrier along the Bulgarian-Turkish border is fully operational during the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

Atanas Ilkov, Bulgaria's Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, announced that there are currently no indications from Bulgarian or partner agencies of terrorist threats or a deterioration in the security environment due to the tensions in the Middle East.

Bulgarian military personnel and colleagues paid their final respects to Lieutenant Colonel Petko Dimitrov and Captain Vencislav Dunkin, who lost their lives in the line of duty on September 13. The farewell ceremony took place at the 12th air base in Dolna Mitropolia, where the two pilots were honored with full military rites.

On September 18, Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov participated in a meeting of the Bucharest-9 (B-9) defense ministers in Bucharest, Romania. The forum also included representatives from the United States.

The pilots Major Petko Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin, who tragically lost their lives in the "Graf Ignatievo" plane crash on September 13, have been posthumously promoted to higher military ranks. The promotions were made by order of Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov.

Two highly skilled pilots from the Dolna Mitropolia Air Base have tragically lost their lives in a crash involving an L-39ZA combat training aircraft. The incident occurred at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo, with Major Petko Dimitrov Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Atanasov Dunkin identified as the deceased.

Two Bulgarian pilots from the "Graf Ignatievo" Air Base lost their lives in a crash involving a training-combat aircraft. The crew, from the Dolna Mitropolia base, were identified as Major Petko Dimitrov Dimitrov, born in 1973, and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Atanasov Dunkin, born in 1996.