Новости за 02.03.2026

Just a day before Bulgaria’s national holiday on March 3, Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova made a striking appearance on Shipka Peak, using the occasion to openly criticize the caretaker government. Speaking to the state-run TASS news agency, Mitrofanova said the tone of Bulgaria’s new authorities had grown sharper and, in her view, unjustifiably so. She suggested that the negativity toward Russia was largely driven by political maneuvering ahead of elections, with politicians seeking to align with foreign patrons. Читать дальше...

The United Arab Emirates has initiated emergency flights to assist passengers stranded due to the ongoing Middle East crisis. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed that airlines will notify travelers directly about their departure times and destinations. Nickolay Mladenov, Bulgaria’s High Representative for Gaza, urged citizens to wait for official instructions rather than going to airports independently, emphasizing that adherence will reduce chaos and facilitate smoother operations. Читать дальше...

Authorities in Bulgaria have yet to comment on recent video footage showing American military aircraft taking off from the Vasil Levski Airport in Sofia. The Ministry of Defense maintains that the presence of these planes is not connected to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Earlier today, social media reported multiple flights, claiming that four aircraft had been active....

President Iliana Yotova convened a high-level consultative meeting to evaluate the potential risks to Bulgaria's national security in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The session included the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Defense, and the heads of the State Intelligence Agency, the Military Intelligence Service, and the State Agency for National Security. During the meeting, Yotova reviewed detailed reports from the security services and the Ministry of Defense....

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a keynote address on France’s nuclear strategy from a military base hosting the country’s ballistic missile submarines, outlining a significant update to the nation’s deterrence doctrine. Macron said France is entering a new phase of nuclear readiness, one that complements NATO’s broader nuclear posture, and invited European partners to participate in nuclear deterrence exercises. “What I’d like is for Europeans to regain control of their own destiny,” he remarked. Читать дальше...

Spain has barred the use of its military bases for strikes on Iranian targets, prompting the immediate departure of U.S. aircraft stationed in the country....

Thousands of Bulgarians remain stranded in the Middle East as flights continue to be canceled due to escalating regional tensions. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism, 1,092 Bulgarian tourists are currently confirmed to be in the region, with verified information on their location, accommodation, and contacts. This number does not include citizens experiencing disrupted transit or transfers at airports. ...

Former President Rumen Radev has officially registered a new political coalition, “Progressive Bulgaria,” to participate in the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, the Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed on Monday. The registration was completed just before 3:00 p.m....

A fourth U.S. service member has died following injuries sustained during Iran’s initial attacks in the region, the U....

On March 1, 2026, Acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky joined an extraordinary videoconference session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council focused on the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Middle East. Participants voiced deep concern over the intensifying military strikes and the potential fallout for both regional stability and European security. EU ministers expressed firm backing for Gulf partners affected by Iranian attacks and reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law and... Читать дальше...

QatarEnergy has suspended production of liquefied natural gas and related products following drone strikes on its facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City. The state-owned company described the halt as a precautionary step and said further updates would be issued as the situation becomes clearer. The Qatari defence ministry confirmed that drones launched from Iran targeted an energy installation in Ras Laffan and a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed....

A one-way attack drone struck the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus shortly after midnight on Sunday, hitting the runway and prompting precautionary evacuations. British and Cypriot officials said the incident caused limited material damage and no casualties. In the hours that followed, two additional unmanned aerial vehicles heading toward the base were intercepted, indicating what authorities described as continued targeting on the third day of the escalating Middle East conflict. ...

Bulgaria has stepped up security measures around airports and sites hosting American and Israeli personnel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, director of the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, confirmed that police presence has been increased at these sensitive locations and that all necessary precautionary measures are in place. Additional officers have been deployed around airports to monitor and secure operations, ensuring readiness in the face of regional instability. Читать дальше...

A 26-year-old man from the Pobeda district in Burgas died early this morning after consuming the synthetic substance known as "drugged tea." Authorities reported that the victim suffered a sudden seizure following the intake of the drug and could not be saved despite immediate attempts to assist him....

Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev took part in a meeting of EU Heads of Mission held under the European Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus. The discussion was organized at the initiative of Cyprus’ Ambassador to Sofia, H.E....

Iran has reported that its nuclear facility at Natanz was struck amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations targeting the country, according to Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations nuclear watchdog....

The recent escalation in the Middle East has prompted heightened alert across the Balkans, with governments convening emergency security meetings, reinforcing protection at sensitive sites, issuing travel warnings, and activating evacuation procedures. In some countries, the situation has sparked domestic political debates, reflecting differing stances on the unfolding crisis. The conflict intensified following the joint Israeli-American military operation, reports of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death... Читать дальше...

At Sofia Airport, four US military planes departed late last night, according to an eyewitness who shared a video on Facebook showing one of the aircraft accelerating along the runway, Dir.bg and BulFoto reported. These aircraft, Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, are designed to refuel combat jets in mid-air, highlighting their logistical rather than combat role. ...

A recent survey by the Trend agency, commissioned by “24 Chasa,” highlights that national identity remains the strongest sense of affiliation among Bulgarians, with traditions, history, and language continuing to serve as central unifying elements. Conducted from January 12 to 18, 2026, the survey included face-to-face interviews with 1,001 participants aged 18 and above. When asked how they define themselves, an overwhelming 83% of respondents identified as “Bulgarian,” while far smaller shares described themselves as “European” (9%)... Читать дальше...

Iran has carried out what British officials describe as its first direct strike on European territory, targeting a key UK military installation in Cyprus. Explosions were heard shortly before midnight at RAF Akrotiri after a security alert was declared. London believes the impact was caused by an Iranian drone, following two earlier missile launches from Iran toward the island....

Large numbers of civilians have been leaving Beirut and southern Lebanon as Israeli strikes intensified on the third day of the widening conflict involving Iran and its regional allies. The Israeli military said early Monday it was targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon after the group launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah, a longstanding ally of Tehran, claimed responsibility for striking an Israeli base in Haifa... Читать дальше...

Acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky has said Bulgaria is awaiting the opening of humanitarian corridors in the Middle East and stands ready to evacuate its citizens by air if conditions allow. Speaking to bTV, she noted that missiles launched by Iran toward Cyprus had fallen into the sea and that there were no reports of damage on the island. According to Neynsky, the immediate priority is the safety and possible evacuation of Bulgarian nationals....