Podcast in English
Audio Player
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

Bulgaria and East Timor discuss cooperation in education, agriculture and IT

The President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, is on a working visit to Bulgaria. This is the first bilateral visit since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and East Timor in 2003...

published on 4/22/25 4:35 PM

Traffic through the Petrohan Pass will be stopped on Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On April 23 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the movement of all vehicles through the Petrohan Pass - Road II-81 will be limited because the removal of trees within the boundaries of the road. While the necessary activities are being carried out in the..

published on 4/22/25 3:50 PM

"Save Sofia" withdraws trust from mayor Terziev

The leader of "Save Sofia" Boris Bonev announced at a briefing that the regional political party is withdrawing its trust from the mayor of the capital, Vasil Terziev. It is also leaving the coalition with "We Continue the Change" -..

published on 4/22/25 2:41 PM