The sham referendums conducted in the four Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as their imminent annexation have stirred up additional concerns among the administration of Bulgaria, with caretaker PM Galab Donev convening the Security Council with the Prime Minister yesterday. The Council members agreed that the disaster protection plans should be reviewed and updated, while representatives of the local authorities, in coordination with the Interior Ministry, will review the stock and the state of the individual and collective crisis response resources. The participants also laid an emphasis on the interaction between the elements of the unified rescue system and the executive branch authorities. The meeting was attended by some of the cabinet ministers, who are directly concerned with national security, as well as the heads of different services. “Any change in the geopolitical situation causes concern,” commented Minister of Defence in the caretaker cabinet Dimitar Stoyanov. He stated that the mobilization in Russia affects Bulgarians with dual citizenship on Russian territory. This was also confirmed by caretaker Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov. As regards the so-called referendums in the four Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, he pointed out that the results from them cannot be considered as legally binding.

The UN Security Council is expected to adopt a resolution today condemning the sham referendums. In the words of US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas‑Greenfield: “If Russia uses its veto to shield itself from accountability, we will then look to the UN General Assembly to send an unmistakable message to Moscow. The world must stand together and defend the Charter of the United Nations.”