Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Defense Minister mulls military training for some civil servants

Photo: Zdravka Maslyankova, BNR

Filling the reserve in the Bulgarian army is complicated, announced the caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov. The military authorities are trying to fill it through temporary service in the voluntary reserve. Reservists will be attracted by higher pay and modernisation of weapons. 

The old Soviet-era weaponry puts young people off, an opinion poll shows, the minister was quoted as saying by the daily 24 Chasa. 

"If this does not help, we will think of other measures. We are not talking about bringing back compulsory conscription, but about preparing citizens to defend their homeland. It is related to certain categories of civil servants for whom the compulsory military training requirement may be introduced," the minister said. According to him, before becoming civil servants, military training will be given to those willing to work in the structures of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice.


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

Big puppets from Romania’s Puppets Occupy Street to appear in Sofia

Two of the big puppets from Puppets Occupy Street from Craiova in Romania will be seen in Sofia for the first time as part of the International 6Fest Street Arts Festival. They will appear to a Bulgarian audience from 7.30 until 8.30 PM in..

published on 8/9/25 8:10 AM

Weather forecast: The weekend will be a scorcher

On Saturday minimum temperatures will range between 16° C. and 23° C., for Sofia 16 ° C. During the day there will be sun with a light, in the Southeastern parts to moderate wind from the East-Northeast. Daytime highs will climb some more,..

published on 8/8/25 6:35 PM

No timeline yet for remaining U.S. F-16 deliveries to Bulgaria, Defence Minister says

Bulgaria has no confirmed delivery schedule for the remaining six F-16 Block 70 fighter jets it has ordered from the United States , Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in a written response to MP Ivaylo Mirchev. According to the minister, the..

published on 8/8/25 5:55 PM