Bulgaria's BTR‑60s finally set to strengthen Ukraine's armoury

Despite varying opinions among Bulgarian politicians, in July 2023, the country's parliament voted to send the unused armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. However, this move faced a roadblock from President Rumen Radev, whose veto was eventually overturned in a December vote, extending the process of moving this military gear from Bulgaria to Ukraine.

“The armored personnel carriers for Ukraine are still in Sofia. They’re expected to depart in a few days, although I won't mention exact dates,” Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev disclosed, as reported by the Unian agency. He also recalled other forms of assistance extended by Bulgaria to Ukraine since the onset of Russian aggression.

Tagarev highlighted donations such as the S-300 air defense systems and their missiles. Bulgaria's contributions, including fuel and ammunition shipments, have played a crucial role, sometimes feeling underappreciated. Notably, Bulgaria maintains and produces ammunition compatible with Soviet-era weapons, including 122 mm and 152 mm caliber shells, pivotal for Ukraine’s artillery. In the initial months of conflict, supplies from Bulgaria could have accounted for up to a third of Ukraine's ammunition requirements.

The BTR-60 armored personnel carriers allocated for Ukraine were sourced from the stockpiles of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While some were unused, concerns about their operational condition arose due to their age, having been manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s.

The primary limitation of these vehicles is their armor, which not only varies in thickness depending on the part of the vehicle but also with the production year. The design favored steep angles for the armor plates, which were unfortunately small, leading to more joints and thereby compromising durability.

The Bulgarian BTR-60s are expected to be utilised by Ukraine for transporting troops and equipment in less hazardous zones, akin to their use of other older, lightly armoured vehicles away from the frontline.

The BTR-60 spans roughly 7.5 meters in length and can carry up to 16 occupants. It features an 8x8 drive and can reach speeds of up to 80 kph. Significantly, it can traverse obstacles up to 40 cm high, including water bodies, equipped with 7.62 mm and 14.5 mm caliber machine guns as armament.