Bulgarian Defense Chief Admiral Emil Evtimov resigns

Admiral Emil Evtimov, the Chief of Defense of the Bulgarian Army, has submitted his resignation with a three-month notice period. The decision follows a conflict with Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov after a NATO conference in Copenhagen regarding commitments to purchase air defense systems and enhance security in the Black Sea.

His departure occurs amid unprecedented drone attacks in Bulgaria’s maritime economic zone in the Black Sea, which resulted in the sinking of the merchant vessels ‘Alfa Vatan’ and ‘Abeille’. Reports suggest the Admiral was aware of the impending military escalation and the country’s inability to counter the Russian threat.

President Rumen Radev reportedly held unsuccessful talks with Evtimov to persuade him to delay his retirement. The resignation has drawn criticism from military experts regarding the government's passive stance toward Russian aggression, while NATO reportedly maintains reservations about the Bulgarian leadership's pro-Russian positions.