Greece has anti-aircraft complexes in Bulgaria
The transfer of NATO forces continues
Greece supports NATO forces in the Alliance’s east wing, with light anti-aircraft artillery in line with its commitment to the NATO Response Force (NRF), were active immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported. .
The publication points out that as of Friday, Athens has started securing NATO units in Bulgaria by deploying ASRAD-HELLAS short-range anti-aircraft missile systems.
Their transfer is part of a decision taken at NATO’s central pact to strengthen Bulgaria and Romania, the alliance’s two main eastern Black Sea countries.
The deployment of the Greek equipment is expected to be completed in the coming days, Kathimerini writes. He points out that Athens specifically sends four units of light anti-aircraft systems, such as ASRAD-HELLAS, with their personnel and important command connections, which consist of about 30 members of the artillery.
ASRAD-HELLAS systems are used by Greece, Germany and Finland and are able to work in adverse conditions and on difficult terrain. They consist of a Hummer vehicle equipped with four Stringer missile launchers. They can also be transported by air if necessary.
At that time, the transfer of forces to Bulgaria and Romania through the port of Alexandroupolis continues, Kathimerini also reported. It recalls that a total of 3,000 US troops and weapons systems are being transported to and from Romania via the port in northern Greece, including the Bradley and M1 Adams tanks.
Greek media also reported that the country’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias hopes to visit Kyiv in the near future. In an earlier interview, Dendias said that during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in February, six days before the invasion of Ukraine, the Greek prime minister gave the impression that Lavrov was unaware of the impending invasion. Before Dendias, the Russian diplomat №1 pointed out that the gathering of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border is a means of persuading Kyiv and makes specific decisions that support Russia’s foreign policy.