Bulgaria bolsters Ukraine's defence with shipment of BTR‑60 armoured vehicles

Ukraine has received 100 BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers, marking the first occasion of heavy military equipment assistance provided to the country by Bulgaria. The transfer of the vehicles occurred in spite of initial discord among Bulgarian politicians. This piece sheds light on the significance of this equipment.

There was prolonged discussion among Bulgarian politicians regarding the provision of heavy military equipment to Ukraine. At one stage, opposition from President Rumen Radev nearly derailed the transfer of these vehicles, but eventually, it went ahead. Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev has confirmed the delivery of all the prepared BTR-60s to Ukraine.

According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence's website, the process pertaining to this transfer began on 21 July 2023. Progressing through the subsequent stages took some time. In December 2023, President Rumen Radev's veto was overturned, and the final decision to ratify the agreement with Ukraine was made on 2 January, kickstarting the transportation preparations.

By the start of March, all the carriers were still in Bulgaria, but Todor Tagarev assured that the situation would change imminently. It has now been disclosed that the first transport, consisting of 30 BTR-60s, departed Bulgaria for Ukraine on 7 March, with the last shipment reaching its destination recently.

"We are assessing Ukraine's declared needs and our capacity to render further aid," Todor Tagarev stated.

The BTR-60 vehicles embody the inaugural batch of heavy military equipment dispatched to Ukraine from Bulgaria. Prior to this, Sofia contributed fuel, handheld weapons, and ammunition, among other forms of aid. At the onset of the conflict, it was revealed that supplies from Bulgaria could cover up to a third of Ukraine's ammunition requirements.

The BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers were acquired by Bulgaria at the end of the 1980s for its military needs. Each vehicle measures approximately 7.5 metres in length and weighs over 10 tonnes. They are equipped with an 8x8 drive, capable of reaching speeds up to roughly 80 km/h on paved roads, and can surmount vertical barriers up to 40 cm high and traverse bodies of water.

It is anticipated that the Ukrainian forces will likely use the Bulgarian BTR-60s to move troops and equipment within relatively safer areas. This mirrors their strategy with other, older, and less armoured vehicles, as deploying them close to the main front would be risky.

Inside, the BTR-60 can carry up to 16 individuals (crew included), and it comes armed with 7.62 mm and 14.5 mm machine guns.