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

A warning for dangerous rainfall has been issued for 12 regions in Southern Bulgaria

On Friday, the lowest temperatures will be between 4°C and 9°C, reaching up to 12°C in the southeast, around 6°C in Sofia . During the next 24 hours, the weather will remain cloudy. It will rain in almost the entire country. During the day, rainfall..

published on 11/27/25 6:45 PM

Varna mayor Blagomir Kotsev released pending trial on €102,258 bond

The Varna District Court has released the city’s mayor, Blagomir Kotsev, on a financial bond of €102,258. Before the court’s decision was announced, supporters of the mayor and members of the We Continue the Change party gathered outside the..

published on 11/27/25 5:37 PM

Three detained and five police officers injured at last night's protest in Sofia

Three people, including an Italian citizen, were arrested during last night's protest against the adoption of the 2026 budget in front of the National Assembly, the director of the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, Chief Commissioner Lyubomir..

published on 11/27/25 3:50 PM