Bulgaria's Radev tells security chief to keep Starlink arson details secret

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev addressed parliament on Wednesday over attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea on Oct. 6 and Oct. 13 and the suspected deliberate burning of Starlink communication antennas near Sofia. Responding to a question from Democratic Bulgaria lawmaker Bozhidar Bozhanov, he asked State Agency for National Security (DANS) chairman Plamen Tonchev not to disclose details for now. “A little more patience, you will have a result,” Radev said, according to the BTA news agency, adding that the investigation was being conducted with partner services and that revealing its findings would jeopardize the outcome. The daily 24 Chasa reported that 11 of 17 antennas at the site were set on fire.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said the owners are responsible for guarding such sites, but that his ministry had taken additional measures to protect similar facilities. On the maritime attacks, Radev said four ships had been hit in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone within a week and two had sunk. Four people were rescued from one of the sunken vessels, and the crews of the other two ships were all saved. Bulgaria had shown it can act quickly, Radev said.

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said Bulgaria will join NATO's Drone Edge initiative, committing 80 million euros under the EU's SAFE program for 20 counter-drone systems, 24 Chasa reported. The hearing was requested by the Progressive Bulgaria group and, at the proposal of the DPS, was broadcast live on public broadcaster BNT after a unanimous vote.