Defence Committee approves provision of APCs to Ukraine (update)

Parliament’s Defence Committee on July 19 approved a draft decision on additional provision of military-technical support to Ukraine with 100 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) from the Ministry of Interior's strorage.

The proposal was tabled by Ivo Mirchev of “We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria”. He explained that the aim is to help Ukraine without disrupting the army's combat capabilities:

"One of the opportunities in this direction was found within the Ministry of Interior. It is about armoured vehicles that were bought in the 1980s and have been sitting in storage for about 40 years, unused, some of them in disrepair."

The Ministry of Interior explained that this equipment is not needed and they are ready to provide it.

"We strongly support this initiative, we stand firmly behind it. The equipment that is currently available with us and as already mentioned, we do not need this equipment. It is even a burden to us. We have definitely not used it in recent years and we have no need for it. It is important for us that this assistance to Ukraine is implemented as soon as possible", explained Stoyan Temelakiev - Deputy Minister of Interior.

The Ministry of Defence also declared that they have no need for this type of armoured personnel carriers.

"We have no staff, no vacancies for APCs of this type. They are 50 years old, 40 years old. We have more modern BMP-1MTLB, BMP 23, so if we have to release the more modern ones to take the older ones, it is absurd," Gen. Atanas Zapryanov - Deputy Minister of Defence said.

According to Defense Minister Todor Tagarev, military expert assessment will be needed if a decision is made to provide the armoured personnel carriers from the Ministry of Interior’s reserve to Kiev:

"I suppose we will be involved in some way. This will become clear at the committee meeting, but the main thing is the Ministry of Interior, as the vehicles are their property. I suppose there is some weaponry. Whether it is installed or not, I cannot tell you."

The final decision will be made by Parliament.