Bulgaria Announces Senior Military Appointments and Retirements

At a meeting on Wednesday, Bulgaria's Council of Ministers approved a series of senior military leadership changes, proposing appointments and retirements to President Rumen Radev, who also serves as Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, CE Report quotes BTA

Brigadier General Nikolay Rusev is set to become Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force and will be promoted to major general, replacing Major General Dimitar Petrov, who is retiring. Colonel Metodi Orlov is recommended as acting Commander of the 3rd Air Base for up to one year.

Colonel Stancho Kaykov is slated to replace Brigadier General Ivan Malamov as Commandant of the Vasil Levski National Military University, with a promotion to brigadier general. Brigadier General Mitko Grigorov will be appointed Deputy Commander of NATO’s Rapid Deployable Corps – Greece (NRDC-GR) and promoted to major general, while Major General Valentin Krastev will step down from that role.

Brigadier General Todor Todorov will move from Commander of the Logistics Support Command to Director of the Defence Ministry’s Logistics Directorate. Colonel Nikolay Kebapchiev will succeed him, receiving a promotion to brigadier general.

In the Bulgarian Navy, Flotilla Admiral Velko Velkov will retire, with Navy Captain Radko Penev taking over as Commander of the flotilla of combat and auxiliary ships, along with a promotion to flotilla admiral.

These changes are set to take effect on April 1, 2025, with some promotions occurring later in the year.