BNR factcheck: Are tanks being transported through Bulgarian territory to Ukraine?

published on 3/25/24 1:00 PM

U.S. Bradley infantry fighting vehicle at a joint training exercise in Poland

Photo: EPA/BGNES

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the movement of military equipment on the territory of Bulgaria often gives rise to comments and allegations in the online space related to the fear of Bulgaria's involvement in hostilities. A year ago, for example, the presence of US troops in Sofia raised concerns that US forces were being deployed in Bulgaria. The claim was refuted by the BNR Fact Check Team, which found that the passage of the troops was part of a standard procedure.

To avoid misinterpretations, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence regularly warns of similar planned procedures, such as the movement of military equipment and troops, which is usually necessary because of exercises and parades.

However, despite the warnings about military convoys passing by, users continue to scaremonger on social networks and suggest that Bulgarian soldiers are about to be sent to the battlefield in Ukraine.

For example, a widely shared Facebook video from 12 March shows trucks with foreign registration carrying heavy military equipment. The description of the video states that it was filmed on the road to Sliven and tanks are being transported. The author of the video asks "Where are they for, and are they preparing us for dismembered charcoal on the battlefield?".

Those commenting below the video perceive the footage differently, but mostly as actions of sending military equipment to Ukraine.

Therefore, BNR's fact-checking team decided to check the credibility of this thesis.

Allegation: Foreign trucks transport tanks to Ukraine on March 12 through Bulgarian territory

In a response to BNR, the press center of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence clarified that on March 12, when the published video was allegedly filmed, a redeployment of infantry fighting vehicles was being carried out, which is in fact the equipment filmed in the video.

Already on 8 March, the Ministry of Defence press centre had circulated information about an expected movement of personnel and military equipment on the republican road network in connection with the rotation of military formations of allied armies participating in joint training with servicemen of the Bulgarian Army.

"US Army troops will be transported from March 10 until the end of the month from civilian airports in the capital and the country," the press office of the Defence Ministry specified.

The Italian contingent of the NATO Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria (March 16)

During the period from 11-17 March this year, military equipment of the Italian contingent of the NATO Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria has been moving along the republican road infrastructure from the border with Greece to the Novo Selo training ground (Sliven district). The motorcades were escorted by Military Police Service teams.

On Friday, 22 March, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence again warned of the movement of military equipment.

"In the last week of March and in early April 2024, servicemen and military equipment from the Bulgarian military contingent that will join the Regional Command "West" of the NATO Stabilization Force in Kosovo (KFOR) will move along the republican road network towards the border with the Republic of North Macedonia. The convoys will be escorted by teams of the Military Police Service, the statement said.

Conclusion:

The allegation that military equipment was being transported through Bulgarian territory to Ukraine on March 12 is FALSE. On that day, the redeployment of infantry fighting vehicles was carried out in connection with the rotation of military formations of allied armies that participate in joint training with servicemen of the Bulgarian army.

Photos: Ministry of Defence, NATO Force Integration Unit in Bulgaria

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