On Friday, Bulgaria decided to send about 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine, a first for the Balkan country, which has so far been reluctant to directly help Kiev because of its historically strong ties with Moscow, AFP reported.

Its parliament voted 148 to 52 to approve a proposal by the new pro-European government to send the vehicles along with weapons and spare parts, launching a new strategy after previous interim governments that wanted to stay out of the conflict.

In the 1980s, the state purchased various models of Soviet-made armored personnel carriers, but they were never used.

“This equipment is no longer necessary for Bulgaria’s needs and can become a valuable support for Ukraine in its struggle to preserve the independence and territorial integrity of the country after the unjustified and unprovoked Russian aggression,” the Bulgarian parliament said in a decision.

Bulgaria, a member of the EU and NATO, has in its warehouse a large number of Soviet weapons, which Ukraine wants, and also produces ammunition for it, according to AFP.

But the country remains historically and culturally very close to Moscow and deeply divided over the issue of sending aid to Ukraine.

The leader of the pro-Russian party “Vozrazhdane” Kostadin Kostadinov called Friday’s decision “a treacherous and shameful betrayal”, and the socialist party BSP was categorically against it.

Bulgaria has so far sent only one package of military aid to Kiev, mostly jackets and helmets, but a pro-European government came to power last month.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, also came to Sofia in early July to discuss the acceleration of deliveries.

After that visit, the government announced an unprecedented aid package, which is likely to include arms and ammunition, although it did not want to give details because the subject is highly controversial in the country.

However, in practice, weapons factories are operating at full capacity after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to the data of the Ministry of Economy, the export of the industry has increased, and goods to Ukraine go through third countries.

In addition, the parliament’s decision to provide the armored vehicles came after it voted earlier in the day to end the concession of the Russian oil company Lukoil to operate the Rosenets oil terminal near the Black Sea port of Burgas. Lawmakers hope that this step will speed up the country’s entry into the Schengen area.

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