Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Russia to conduct naval exercises in part of Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone

The Russian Federation has released a public notification designating a temporary warning zone in the Black Sea in connection with the conduct of military exercises. The zone includes parts of Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said, amid yesterday's NATO statement condemning Russia's dangerous behaviour in the Black Sea.

"Bulgaria and the Allies continue regular enhanced surveillance activities in the NATO area of responsibility," the defence ministry said, explaining that there was no cause for concern as the exercises would take place far from Bulgaria's territorial waters. "Although these actions do not constitute a formal violation of international legal norms, they are not considered good practice," the defence ministry said.

Speaking to journalists, Deputy Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said that according to international maritime law, the Russians are free to sail in the zone. "The problem is that by conducting exercises there, they have no right to impose an embargo on operations and impede shipping," he explained. 

"This is an attempt by Russia to raise the price of the grain deal, to hinder Ukraine and they will probably seek negotiations to bring the country back into the deal," the deputy minister added.

A day earlier, NATO said Russia's new Black Sea warning zone, within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, had created new risks of miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation.



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

Rain, snowfall stops, sunny weather expected in most of the country

On Sunday, over most regions in Western and Central Bulgaria, the cloud cover will significantly break and decrease and it will be mostly sunny and almost quiet. In the morning hours, there will be reduced visibility in places in the plains and..

published on 12/28/24 6:05 PM

The government allocates two million for more than 20,000 households left without electricity

The Bulgarian caretaker government will allocate two million leva (about one million euros) to support the remaining 20 thousand households without electricity . The authorities are in constant contact with the regional governors of the affected..

published on 12/28/24 1:10 PM

Dozens of villages in Bulgaria still without electricity and communication network

Dozens of villages in Central Bulgaria are still without electricity, water and connection to mobile operators networks. The teams of the electricity distribution company in the Veliko Tarnovo region resumed their work this morning to eliminate the..

published on 12/28/24 11:23 AM