The Ministry of Defense has classified as secret the answer to the question about a connection between the repair of jet fighters in Russia and Belarus and aviation accidents in Bulgaria after 2018. Speaking to the Bulgarian National Radio, the MP from Democratic Bulgaria Martin Dimitrov, who asked the question, strongly criticized the classification of the answer. Data in the answer show that "the old military equipment must be repaired in allied countries," Dimitrov added.

"We cannot continue to rely on the Russian military-industrial complex to maintain the potential of the Bulgarian army, which is part of NATO," former Minister of Defense Velizar Shalamanov has told BNR. Bulgarian military equipment is old and dependence on Russia has been increasing instead of decreasing, the expert adds.