Bulgarian troops will join the training of Ukrainian Armed Forces within NATO member countries under the "NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine" (NSATU) programme. The decision was made by the Bulgarian government.
By making this decision, Bulgaria clearly demonstrates its commitment to supporting Ukraine, upholding Euro-Atlantic values, and strengthening its allied solidarity in supporting international peace and security, according to the local portal Bgonair.
At the NATO summit in Washington in July, the alliance announced the creation of a mission to coordinate military supplies to Ukraine, train Ukrainian soldiers, and engage in long-term bilateral security agreements. This mission is called "NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine" (NSATU).
NSATU operates within NATO member countries and aims to assist Ukraine's security in accordance with the UN Charter. The mission will also support the transformation of Ukraine's defense and security forces, facilitating their further integration into NATO.
Previously, Ukrainian soldiers were trained under the EU mission EUMAM and the British mission Interflex. By the end of June, EUMAM, involving 24 countries, had trained 52,000 Ukrainian soldiers, equivalent to 15 brigades, and plans to train 60,000 by the end of summer.
The UK conducts its own training of Ukrainian soldiers, while other European countries participate in its Interflex programme, which adheres to the standards of the British Armed Forces. By the end of last year, the UK government reported training over 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers, with plans to complete training for another 10,000 by the end of 2024.
