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

Third day of power cuts due to heavy snowfall

The municipalities of Troyan, Teteven, Lovech, Apriltsi and Samokov are experiencing problems with electricity supply for the third day. The most common cause of the outages are trees that have fallen on power lines because of the heavy snow...

published on 12/27/24 3:16 PM

Sofia to celebrate New Year with light show instead of fireworks

Sofia City Hall is planning a light show instead of fireworks for the New Year's celebrations, it's press office announced.  The show, which will be part of the programme of the New Year's Concert at Knyaz Alexander I Square, will be designed with..

published on 12/27/24 2:00 PM

Honouring the Bulgarian heroes of Karbala

It is 21 years since the truck bomb attack on the "India" base in Karbala , which killed 5 soldiers from the first Bulgarian contingent in Iraq.  In Karlovo, members of the 61st Mechanised Brigade paid their respects by laying wreaths and..

published on 12/27/24 1:34 PM