Bulgaria boosts border security after drone explodes near gas pipeline

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that a drone entered Bulgarian airspace from Romania on Saturday and exploded near the village of Kardam, causing no casualties or damage. The incident occurred in a sunflower field approximately 1,000 meters from Bulgaria's compressor station for the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline and 200 meters from Romania's station.

"The drone entered Bulgarian airspace at 0810 a.m. local time and went off in a sunflower field near the border with Romania," Radev stated. He added that the security of strategic sites and surveillance along the Bulgaria-Romania border would be increased.

Radev noted that the unmanned aerial vehicle was not detected in either Bulgarian or Romanian airspace beforehand, highlighting ongoing challenges in drone detection and identification. He also mentioned a delay in the delivery of high-precision radars to the Bulgarian army and promised action to address this.

Drone incursions have become more frequent, raising concerns within NATO about bolstering defenses against security threats, particularly in light of the Russia-Ukraine war. The Bulgarian government is taking steps to enhance border security and surveillance in response to this incident.

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The drone entered Bulgarian airspace at 0810 a.m. local time and went off in a sunflower field near the border with Romania.