Three Bulgarian companies have been sanctioned by the US for enabling the Russian military industry.

According to the US Department of State and the Department of the Treasury, they shipped aviation components and other items used by Russia to continue its war against Ukraine. Three Bulgaria-based companies are on the sanctions list.

One of the companies is AIR LEO M AND E LTD EOOD in Varna, which shipped microelectronic and aviation components to Russia-based companies. The company’s owner is Veselin Isakov, who found out about the sanctions from the BNR and asked to be given more time become making any comment. Isakov is also owner of a company with a similar name - AIR LEO which is based in the United Arab Emirates and is also on the sanctions list. The other two companies are Mirex BG OOD and GNO Investment owned by Turkish businessman Ozgur Hasan Celik, who used these companies in Bulgaria and Turkey to manufacture equipment for Russian military companies, the US says.