Bulgaria marked Armed Forces Day on Monday with a military parade in central Sofia, attended by more than 700 service members.
Earlier in the day, a solemn blessing of the battle flags and sacred banners was held at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
The parade opened with a flyover by a Mi-17 helicopter carrying the Bulgarian flag, followed by two Cougar helicopters. Earlier in the day, a traditional blessing ceremony for military flags was held at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
President Rumen Radev told public broadcaster BNT that the army must become more accessible to younger generations.
“The army needs to be much more open, and the media should closely follow developments within the Bulgarian armed forces,” Radev said. “This is truly a noble profession—defending the homeland—so young people should be genuinely motivated.”
Asked how many children expressed a desire to join the army, Radev replied: “All the boys, and even some girls.”
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