Defence Ministry

The district military prosecutor's office in Sofia has charged Venislav Tsanov, director of the Defence Acquision Directorate of Bulgaria's Defence Ministry, with malfeasance in office.

A Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter crashed in Syria in the early on April 12 killing both pilots, Russia's Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said the helicopter, which crashed in Homs province, had not been shot down, but the cause of the incident was unclear. 

A training exercise of Bulgaria's naval and border police forces will test their capabilities for joint action in response to a hypothetical increase in migratory pressure in the Black Sea, the Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.

A project to acquire two multi-purpose patrol ships with modular design for the Bulgarian Naval Force will cost BGN 820 M (EUR 419 M), the country's Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.

Bulgaria will spend about BGN 2.42 B (EUR 1.24 B) to keep airborne its MiG-29s fighter jets and acquire new warplanes as well as patrol ships under a defence procurement investment plan approved by the government, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The cabinet approved the three investment projects earlier on Wednesday.

Montenegro's Defence Ministry is planning to tighten up the dress code for serving soldiers, worried by the lax appearance of the military.

Under the new military code, which BIRN has seen, soldiers will no longer be allowed to smoke in public places, use umbrellas and "carry bags or other items" while in uniform.

Bulgaria's Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has requested an additional BGN 1.5 M (EUR 750,000) to provide essential equipment to army personnel taking part in border protection and control jointly with police, BNR public radio broadcaster reported.

Bulgarian Army troops are holding a joint training exercise with border police units at Ilinden, a crossing at the country's border with Greece, the Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.

Three NATO ships under the command of Standing NATO Response Force Mine Countermeasure Group, SNMCMG-2, will visit the Montenegrin port of Bar on Friday, the country's Defence Ministry announced.

Bulgaria's Defence Council has approved the investment project for acquiring new fighter jets for the country's Air Force, public broadcaster BNR reported on Monday.

The decision was taken by the consultative body within the Defence Ministry last week, according to BNR.