Bulgarian army weakened by pro-Russian disinformation

The constant fear of war that currently pervades Bulgarian society, fuelled largely by disinformation spread by pro-Russian influence networks, is beginning to seriously affect the army’s ability to fight, Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said on Wednesday.

Pro-Russian opposition parties, the Bulgarian Socialist Party and Vazrazhdane, criticised the government’s security policy during the debate on the vote of no-confidence motion they filed against the government.

In response to these comments, Tagarev accused both parties of spreading disinformation, pointing to how it reduces young people’s desire to pursue a career in the army.

Indeed, since the start of the war in Ukraine, applications to military academies have fallen by 35% and the number of cadets by 45%, according to an analysis by the Defence Ministry, which predicts a massive shortage of officers in the army over the next four years.

“This is a clear example that the disinformation campaign by parliamentary parties is reducing the country’s combat capabilities,” said Tagarev about pro-Russian disinformation, stating that NATO membership and sending military aid to Ukraine would put Bulgaria in a direct military conflict with Russia.

Such claims were at the heart of Vazrazhdane’s election campaign in the spring, when it emerged as the country’s third political force with 16% of the vote, though as Tagarev noted, this is a narrative Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov is still peddling.

Tagarev also pointed to the similar rhetoric coming from representatives of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), especially last year.

Recruiting military personnel, already difficult due to low pay, physical fitness requirements and relocation to a city close to the military unit, has become even more difficult since last year, with 6,000 vacancies currently open.

Addressing the concerns regarding Bulgaria’s provision of military aid to Ukraine, Tagarev said Bulgaria is providing aid to a victim of unprovoked aggression. “By protecting itself, Ukraine is protecting Europe from the Kremlin. If Ukraine loses, be ready to at least double the resources Bulgaria allocates for defence,” he added.

BSP leader Kornelia Ninova called Tagarev’s remarks against her and her party a “joke”, saying she had only called for peace talks and urged for a neutral position in what she says is a “conflict in Ukraine”.

Kostadinov himself was more aggressive in his response, repeating the nickname “Tagerenko” that his party and supporters have coined for Tagarev since he began his mandate, referring in particular to the aid Bulgaria has been sending to Ukraine.

“You belong in prison, Tagarenko,” Kostadinov said, adding that “everything you say is a lie” – making no attempt to explain what these lies are.

Kostadinov did not talk much about Ukraine and disinformation but focused on the fact that cadets at the military academy in Sofia are given €6 a day for food because the school canteen is not working.

Bulgaria sending military aid to Ukraine was also defended by Ivaylo Mirchev (PP-DB).

“The total value of everything donated is worth as much as several kilometres of highway. Besides, we will get it back from the European Union,” Mirchev said.

Meanwhile, Tagarev recalled that by 2024, the army will have a budget exceeding even what was planned in the national plan to meet NATO’s defence spending requirement of 2% of the country’s GDP.

(Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)