In Bulgaria on Sunday, July 31, an explosion occurred at an ammunition depot belonging to businessman Emilian Gebrevwhich supplied weapons to Ukraine at the height of the conflict in the east of the country in 2014, local media write.
According to Bulgarian National Radio, the incident happened in the morning on the territory of the former army barracks near the town of Karnobat in the south-east of the country. As a result of the explosion, a fire started in the warehouse, no one was injured.
Gebrev, commenting on what happened, said that “we are not talking about any human error, it cannot be.” According to him, the warehouse kept old ammunition, which was ordered by different companies, but not paid for.
Explosions in Czech Vrbetica
In April last year, the Czech authorities announced the involvement of Russian citizens in explosions at a military warehouse in the village of Vrbetice in 2014, which resulted in the destruction of about 150 tons of ammunition. Warehouses were rented by the private firm Imex Group. According to Czech media, the ammunition was planned to be sent to Gebrev’s company, who allegedly supplied weapons to UkraineSyria and other countries.
Russia called the accusations of organizing explosions in Vrbetica baseless. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the accusations were “absurd and savage, since they were presented without evidence.” For his part, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis called the explosions “an unprecedented act of terrorism.”
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Another plane with military aid to Ukraine
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than two dozen states have already supplied weapons to Kyiv – from Australia to the United States. And we are talking not only about ammunition, small arms and non-lethal weapons, but also about heavy systems and armored vehicles. DW – about some of them.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
M777 towed howitzer
The British-designed 155-mm howitzer entered service in 2005, and its first combat use took place in the war in Afghanistan. It can fire guided projectiles, the effective firing range reaches 40 km. In intensive mode, it is able to produce up to 5 shots per minute. For the first time, deliveries of the M777 to Ukraine were announced on April 13.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Tanks T-72
The most massive tank of the second generation was put into service in the Soviet Union in 1973. Only in the USSR and Russia more than 30 thousand of these tanks were produced. Their various modifications were produced in Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, India. It is still used by the armies of four dozen states. Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has received about 300 T-72 tanks from Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Multiple launch rocket system BM-21
It was adopted by the USSR in 1963 and is still in use today. Volley – 40 shells, the largest firing range – 42 km. MLRS is in service with several dozen states in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. In April 2022, it became known that Poland had transferred 20 such systems to Ukraine.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Anti-aircraft missile system S-300
Put on combat duty in the USSR in 1979, the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) is capable of hitting ballistic and aerodynamic targets at various altitudes and at a distance of up to 200 km. Designed to protect large industrial and administrative facilities, military bases and command posts. In April, Slovakia announced the supply of S-300 to Ukraine
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Brimstone air-to-ground homing missiles
Developed for the British Air Force, high-tech Brimstone missiles were put into service in 2005. The active radar homing head makes it possible to hit moving targets with great accuracy, and the tandem warhead principle is effective against modern types of armor. Pictured is a British Eurofighter Typhoon with Brimstone missiles.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Self-propelled artillery PzH 2000
The German self-propelled artillery mount (ACS) PzH 2000 is one of the most modern self-propelled guns in the world, combining survivability, mobility and high rate of fire. In the ammunition load of 60 shells. Firing range – up to 50 km. On May 3, the Die Welt newspaper reported that the FRG was ready to transfer 7 PzH 2000 howitzers to Ukraine.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system
An upgraded version of the Czechoslovakian version of the Soviet Grad multiple launch rocket system. It can also be used for remote mining of the area. Equipped with an armored cockpit to protect the crew and a digital fire control system, which reduces the time from target detection to its destruction. The Czech Republic handed over more than 20 such installations to Ukraine in mid-April.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
FH70 towed howitzer
Joint project of Germany, Great Britain and Italy. Compared to the M777, the FH70 is an outdated artillery system, but due to the automated loading of shells, it can fire shots every 10 seconds. The maximum effective firing range is about 30 km. It is still in service with the armies of Great Britain, Italy, Germany and a number of other countries. Italy announced the transfer of the FH70 to Ukraine.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
Switchblade combat drones
Adopted in 2012, the tactical loitering munition Switchblade is designed to destroy manpower and armored targets. The United States promised to transfer more than 700 such drones to Ukraine. In May, the first evidence of the use of the Switchblade by the Ukrainian military appeared. In addition, it became known that the United States was ready to transfer 120 of the latest Phoenix Ghost tactical drones to Kyiv.
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What weapons does Ukraine get from the West
HIMARS multiple launch rocket system
Universal artillery system based on a car. It can use six rockets or one ATACMS operational-tactical ballistic missile. It can also be used to launch anti-aircraft missiles. Used by the US in Afghanistan and Syria. The United States announced the start of deliveries of HIMARS to Ukraine on April 22.
Author: Vitaly Kropman
