Bulgaria assured that the actions of the Russian Federation will not affect the work of local facilities repairing military equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Associated Press reported about this.

Bulgaria will continue restoring Ukrainian military equipment despite Russia’s decision to suspend their certification of Bulgarian enterprises on Russian/Soviet helicopter repair, the Bulgarian Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov said.

Zakov said that Moscow’s decision would neither seriously affect Bulgaria, nor would it hinder the Ukrainian military equipment repair process.

“What happened with gas has now happened with helicopter licenses,” Zakov said, referring to an earlier suspension of Russian gas deliveries to Bulgaria after it refused to pay in rubles.

The day before, Russia publicly resented the fact that NATO and EU members supply weapons and military equipment to Ukraine and plan to repair it in Eastern Europe.

In response, the Russian Federation suspended licenses for two Bulgarian companies and one Czech company certified to conduct repairs and maintenance of Russian-designed helicopters.

The statement implies that Russia will also no longer provide spare parts to these enterprises.

Previously, Bulgaria agreed to repair Ukrainian military equipment but refused to supply weapons to Ukraine.

At the end of April, it was confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will get their equipment repaired at the facilities in Bulgaria.

In June, Ukraine sent a formal note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria asking to provide weapons that could help fight against Russian aggression.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria Vitaliy Moskalenko revealed that 80 Ukrainian tanks will be repaired in Bulgaria.