Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Sofia offered Kiev its Soviet fighter jets, leaked secret Pentagon report says

MiG-29
Photo: BGNES

Sofia has offered to donate its MiG-29s to Kiev, according to highly classified Pentagon documents leaked online in recent weeks, CNN reports.

On February 23, the report says, Bulgaria expressed willingness to donate its fleet of MiG-29 jets to Ukraine - a "challenge," the report assesses, because it will leave Bulgaria without fighter aircraft to fulfill its air policing missions until US-made F-16s are delivered, "which is at least a year away."

Of the 18 Bulgarian MiG-29 aircraft, no more than 8 are actually flying. If no engines are found for the obsolescent MiG-29s, their service life could be extended until at most the end of 2023, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov admits. There is still no official response from the ministry to the information in the report, BTA reports. 



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

Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev

The Mayor of Sofia calls GERB's actions regarding the transport strike populist

Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev accused GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov of populism and reckless actions. Earlier today, the government announced it would allocate an additional 15 million leva (7.7 million euros) in subsidies..

published on 5/19/25 5:48 PM

Pope Leo XIV received silver coins featuring Bulgarian monasteries from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

A delegation led by Metropolitan Anthony and Professor Ivan Ivanov — a priest and theologian — represented the Bulgarian Patriarchate at the enthronement and inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on 18 and 19 May. They delivered an official..

published on 5/19/25 5:04 PM

Government allocates €7.7 million to Sofia public transport in response to workers' protest

The government has agreed to provide an additional €7.7 million in subsidies for Sofia's public transport. This was agreed at a meeting today between Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and union leaders, according to BNR reporter Tsvetelina Stoyanova...

published on 5/19/25 2:47 PM