site.btaUPDATED Defence Minister on Partial Mobilization in Russia: There’s Risk to National Security, but No Immediate Threat

There is a risk to Bulgaria’s national security, but there is not an immediate threat, caretaker Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov commented on the announcement of a partial mobilization in Russia, speaking at a news conference at the Council of Ministers here on Wednesday.

Conducting a mobilization in Russia will certainly aggravate the conflict and make its end difficult to predict, said Stoyanov, recalling that Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the collective defence system guarantees this country’s national security well.

"Every conflict that is frozen, simmering or hot, like the one in Ukraine, is a risk to national security. Starting with the flow of refugees and the use of economic means, leading in one way or another to impacting our national security. We are feeling it ourselves, as we see what is happening with the prices," he said.

Asked whether the new situation related to the partial military mobilization in Russia, could lead to discussions about increasing the number of NATO troops in Bulgaria, Stoyanov said that this is not necessary at the moment, because there is no immediate threat to this country.