Bulgaria has made a significant shift in its policy regarding military equipment support for Ukraine, as the country has agreed to provide the Ukrainian army with around 100 armored personnel carriers.

This decision comes after the appointment of a new pro-Western government, marking a departure from the stance taken by previous interim governments that rejected direct arms supplies.

The former interim governments, appointed by President Rumen Radev, had been resistant to providing military equipment to Kyiv, with Radev himself sympathetic to Russia and even blaming Ukraine for the ongoing conflict.

However, the recent parliamentary decision in Sofia approved the government's proposal to send heavy military equipment to Ukraine. The parliament's decision emphasized that these armored vehicles are no longer necessary for the needs of Bulgaria, and can instead play a crucial role in supporting Ukraine's fight to preserve its independence and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression.

The provided armored vehicles were originally delivered to Bulgaria in the 1980s when the country was an ally of the Soviet Union within the Warsaw Pact. Despite joining NATO in 2004, Bulgaria still possesses Soviet-designed weapons and operates several ammunition factories for them.

While the principle of providing military aid to Ukraine was approved by parliament in late 2020, the decision on the specifics of aid was left to the executive. Previous administrations, however, rejected the idea due to political instability in Bulgaria.

It is only under the new government, appointed in June, that these armored vehicles, along with armaments and spare parts, will be sent to Ukraine. Liberal lawmaker Ivaylo Mirchev expressed the importance of supporting Ukraine, stating that the Ukrainians are fighting not only for their own freedom but also for the freedom of others.

However, the decision faced criticism from the Socialist party and pro-Moscow nationalists from the Revival party, who expressed their disagreement by voting against it. Despite the differing opinions, the Bulgarian parliament's decision to provide military equipment to Ukraine reflects a significant shift in policy, aligning the country's stance with that of NATO and other Western allies in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.