How Bulgaria secretly saved Ukraine and why Kiril Petkov is an unsung hero of this war
Bulgaria has secretly been one of the pillars of the West’s efforts to arm Ukraine.
Bulgaria has been selling these items to these countries, which have then sent them to Ukraine. For the first six months of the war, Bulgaria was the source of around one-third of all arms sent to Ukraine.
This is the story of a small country, often called one of “Russia’s pets” in the past
It’s a story of standing up against tyranny and injustice. It is the story of how Bulgaria’s inspiring actions may have changed the course of history. It’s the story of settling a score with those that Bulgaria once called friends. Petkov stood up to Russia without fear. Bulgaria showed the old bear the ropes.
The USA and Great Britain paid for the deliveries
The US, Poland, and the UK have been paying Bulgaria billions of dollars to provide fuel and arms for Ukraine since before the invasion. Ukraine had always stressed that the goal wasn’t to receive direct military aid from the Bulgarian government.
Ukrainian and Western companies wanted to buy weapons from Bulgarian suppliers. This deal was a win-win situation for both parties. Bulgaria’s weapon stocks will be refilled with modern gear replacing these Cold War stocks and Ukraine received what they needed to carry on the struggle.
The Bulgarian military industry has been working in 3 shifts since the start of the war
Bulgaria supplied around 30 percent of the ammo and shells AFU used in these first and most critical months of the war. While the West was busy arguing, Bulgaria came forth and filled the gap. Additionally, 40% of the diesel fuel was coming from Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is not the selfless hero, but it is neither the Ferengi of EU.
Bulgaria has a long history with Russia. Public support was not certain, and that’s why another route had to be taken. Bulgaria has pulled off one of the most daring geo-political gambits in modern history. Our story begins on the 28th of April in Kyiv. I will get a bit emotional while I tell you this story. So, allow me some pathos and subjectivity going forward.
Kiril Petkov met Selensky in Kyiv, and he assured Ukraine his personal support
Personal support is important to mention, as public support in Bulgaria wasn’t as certain at this point. Kiril’s coalition partner in Bulgaria, the communist party of the country, had been strictly against any weapon deliveries to Kyiv. Ukraine needed weapons, and it needed them right now. This is when Vassilev and Petkov stepped in to make this happen.
Bulgaria promised to repair Ukrainian equipment
The smile on both leader’s faces was a bit too bright for the official deal that was agreed upon. Still, I didn’t think more of it, and neither did Russia apparently. That was Russia’s big mistake. Putin had underestimated the agency of Bulgaria as well as the resolve of Petkov.
The official position of Bulgaria was closer to Hungary than the West
Hungary still remains the only NATO member that doesn’t deliver any weapons to Ukraine. Orban’s actions are questionable. But our topic today is Bulgaria and not Hungary or “neutral” Austria.
Bulgaria may have gone down in history as the second country of NATO unwilling to deliver arms to Ukraine
However, history had other plans for Bulgaria. When Petkov visited Ukraine in April, a far-reaching process to provide substantial military aid had long been set in motion. This aid was critical as it helped to turn the tide in Ukraine’s favor. Petkov did what was right instead of doing what was easy.
Bulgaria had to avoid a direct delivery of weapons
The entire process needed to happen fast, secretly and indirectly. Bulgarian warehouses were full of weapons and ammunition. The West was still far from done debating over Putin’s red lines. Ukraine simply didn’t have the time to wait for this debate to end.
Bulgaria provided one-third of Ukraine’s military needs for several months
To add salt to injury, Bulgaria duped Russia by providing Kyiv with vast amounts of diesel fuel. Between April and August 2022, Bulgaria provided 40 percent of the fuel that Ukraine needed to keep its war machine running. Ironically, Russia provided much of the crude oil for this diesel fuel itself.
Bulgaria imported more Russian oil than usual which was a cause for criticism by the West at this time
But, Pektov was staying his course. Behind closed doors, the finance minister of Bulgaria Vassilev met with a delegation from Ukraine in April 2022. The next daring move in this game of geo-political chess was about to commence.
This Ukrainian delegation told him that Ukraine is running out of fuel
Bulgaria has a large refinery near Burgas at the Black Sea. This company is a daughter company of the Russian company Lukoil. Vassilev managed to get Lukoil Bulgaria to export its surplus fuel to Ukraine.
The Lukoil employees condemned the war and wanted to help
Bulgaria needed roughly half of the fuel the refinery produces for itself. The other half was brought to Ukraine. The fuel reached Kyiv between May and August 2022. In this critical phase of the war, Bulgaria transported fuel to Romania. Then the fuel went to Ukraine from there.
The delivery from these local firms was done via foreign shell companies
Back then, Bulgaria was very dependable on Russian deliveries of both oil and gas. While the West debated. David had his sling at the ready. Petkov was hell bent to deal a devastating blow against Russia’s delusional dreams of conquest.
The two “Harvard Boys” went to Bulgaria to fight against corruption
Then, these two men realised that Europe had no time to lose. They saved Ukraine and potentially Europe. The free world has indebted itself to them. This bravery and upright behavior won’t be forgotten.
A majority of the Bulgarian parliament planned to stand with Russia
These two men decided to stand on the right side of history. They stood with Ukraine in its darkest hour. Bulgaria had enabled Ukraine to defend itself against a much larger enemy. Meanwhile, the West was busy discussing which weapon types would anger Russia. At the same time Mariupol was reduced to rubble.
Bulgaria also pushed for harsher sanctions when the war began
Bulgaria pushed to cut Russia off from SWIFT. Vassilev was in Paris when the war began. He attended a meeting of the EU finance ministers. Everyone was still shocked by the invasion.
Vassilev held a speech, but not about finance or economics
He told his colleagues what Russia understands under the process of “de-nazifying” Ukraine. Vassilev urged his colleagues to move fast and decisively. Two days later, the EU politicians coined the agreement the “Bulgarian proposition.”
“The Russians did the same to us in World War II. They had murdered thousands of professors, priests, and all those who would refuse to share their ideas.” Vassilev at the EU Finance Minister meeting in Paris Feb. 2022
There was even more going on behind closed doors
The Ukrainian diplomat Dmytro Kuleba had met with Bulgarian officials. He may have realised that if someone is willing to act fast, then it will be Bulgaria. He told them this is a matter of life and death. He urged Petkov that Ukraine needs security assistance.
Meanwhile, Russians were torturing and killing Ukrainians in villages and cities. Petkov told Kuleba that the political climate at home was difficult. Still, Petkov promised he would stop at nothing to make this happen. And against the odds, he did.
Petkov managed to get his government to sign the necessary papers
The export of ammunition and weapons to Ukraine was done via intermediaries. The private military sector of Bulgaria was producing weaponry at full throttle. Footage from April 2022 had shown military cargo planes filled to be brink with military gear.
These supplies arrived at the Polish airport of Rzsezow. It was the main supply hub for this operation
Petkow assessed that “Bulgaria provided roughly one third of the ammunition Ukraine needed in the early phases of the war.” But dark clouds appeared on the horizon in June 2022. The head of the state owned weapon export company Kintex.
Alexander Mihailow had to step down after a political quarrel. Mihailow went public with the story. He stated that Ukraine had received weapons worth 2 billion dollars.
But, to Mihalow’s dismay, no one really cared
The Western media was busy discussing the delivery of HIMARS instead. The socialists threatened to break the coalition in the case of direct military support. Officially, these deliveries didn’t exist.
“Fortune favors the bold” Aeneas
The Bulgarian Prime Minister risked his political career as 70 percent of Bulgarians were worried about being drawn into the war
The public was vastly against direct military aid to Ukraine. The Bulgarian president Radew had claimed that Bulgaria would become a party of the war by delivering weapons. In 2022, Russia’s idle threats still worked wonders. The Bulgarian defense minister even called the war a “Special Military Operation.” Petkov immediately removed him from his office.
Not by speeches and votes of the majority, are the great questions of the time decided … but by iron and blood. — Otto von Bismarck
This game in the shadows is now officially over, and I salute Bulgaria
Since January 2023, the refinery in Burgas is fully controlled by Bulgaria. The neural links to Russia are cut. Bulgaria has officially asked the EU for export licenses. Currently, Bulgaria’s competition watchdogs go after Lukoil for abusing their dominant market position.
Russia likely never found out about these deliveries
The oil tankers of Russia showed up month after month. The greed and arrogance of the empire had blinded it once more. However, Putin’s regime may be corrupt, arrogant, and stupid. It still remains dangerous and destructive. And they aren’t fully blind.
Moscow soon realised that Premier Petkov and finance minister Vassilev were stark supporters of Ukraine
Moscow fumed, and it answered with increased cyberattacks against Bulgaria starting from early May. Russia has targeted postal services and the energy grid. Sometimes, neither pensions nor state worker’s wages could be paid out.
Moscow tried its usual petty and pathetic little tricks
Russia also attempted to bribe government officials to directly influence the decision-making process in Bulgaria. There are even unverifiable rumors, that some PMs of the pro-Russian party “rebirth” received direct orders from Moscow. Bulgaria has also expelled seventy members of the Russian embassy accusing them of espionage.
Then Moscow used its energy weapon against Bulgaria, attempting to make an example of them
Back then, the gas weapon was still potent. Today, the once mighty stick of Gazprom has turned into an empty condom. In April 2022, Bulgaria was still heavily dependable on Russia gas.
Bulgaria’s defiance to pay their bills in Rubles caused Gazprom to turn off all gas deliveries to Bulgaria on the 27th of April. Petkov was one step ahead of Russia once again. Putin had underestimated the resolve of the “Harvard Boys.”
Putin’s gas gambit failed first against Bulgaria and later against Europe
Sofia remained defiant. The resolve of the 7 million Bulgarian citizens was yet to be tested. Petkov sent word to Washington in his hour of need and asked for assistance. Washington impressed by such boldness answered promptly.
The USA sent two LNG tankers setting course for Burgas
The US charged Bulgaria the same amount of money that Gaz Prom would have charged them. The monster in the Kremlin had once again understimated the power of the alliance that he is up against.
Putin’s evil plan to freeze Bulgaria had failed. His plan to freeze Europe had all but begun taking shape
The reason why the mighty ally of Bulgaria agreed to this deal is known to us as well. Petkov explained it like this.
“I have made abundantly clear that these tankers are a political signal for the rest of Europe. There are always ways out of the dependency from Russia.”
Pektov was hell bent to lead his country away from the past and into a brighter future
Against all odds, he pushed for the completion of a gas pipeline connector towards Greece. This move will make Bulgaria an important hub for the gas supply of Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria has recently started the next section of this gas interconnector which will link Bulgaria and Serbia.
The wrath of the Kremlin did not spare Petkov in the end
Petkov’s coalition fell apart in the summer as the parliament initiated a vote of no confidence against him. Pro Russian influence played its part as well. The Kremlin launched a campaign of disinformation. Moscow spread its usual lies.
But, it was too late. Petkov’s gamble had succeeded. Putin considers Europeans as mere vassal states of the USA without agency. He will be suprised just how versatile of an opponent we actually are.
Pektov and Vassilev remained in office until the fall
Since then, the votes have been separated between different parties. The country is stuck between a course of pro-European reform and going backward to the old system, and Bulgaria fails to form a stable government. The opinion towards Ukraine remained very positive, and this is unlikely to change.
The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice Theodore Parker
Summary
The powers of injustice and darkness have tried to drag down Bulgaria with it into the abyss and they are still trying to do so. A dying empire tries to drag the symbols of its civilization with it. But, Bulgaria will not falter, I know it won’t. Mr. Petkov and Vassilev have already written history. Ukraine and Europe will be forever grateful for this act of courage and bravery. Finally, we can tell their story.
His party will continue its fight towards a pro European and corruption free Bulgaria
Bulgaria has shown us two things. One, that a world without fear of Russia is possible. And two, that a world without being dependable on Russia is also possible.
Russia will kill more innocent people in the coming months who won’t change the outcome, which is Russia’s defeat
Putin won’t be able to kill liberty. As long as men are willing to defend it, liberty shall never perish. Putin won’t kill the idea of a free and united Europe. No power in the world can stop an idea whose time has come. My message to Russia is: “Vae victis,” woe to the vanquished.
Gandalf: Now come the days of the king! May they be blessed.
Sources:
This story originally appeared in die Welt.
