Bulgaria weapons site fire follows previous blasts linked to Russian operatives

Key facts

• A fire broke out at a weapons storage site in central Bulgaria overnight.
• This is the second blaze at a munitions facility run by EMCO in recent weeks.
• EMCO stores munitions allegedly intended for export to Ukraine and Georgia.
• Bulgarian prosecutors have linked previous attacks on EMCO facilities to Russian operatives.
• An arrest warrant was issued for six Russian citizens in connection with past EMCO arms depot destructions.

A fire broke out at a weapons storage site in central Bulgaria overnight, marking the second such incident at a munitions facility in recent weeks. The blaze occurred near the village of Tsareva Livada and was visible lighting up the night sky.

Kristina Sidorova, the Gabrovo regional governor, stated that the fire was contained within the storage base territory and was spreading from warehouse to warehouse. Local media reported the site is run by EMCO, a company that experienced an explosion at another facility last month. Reuters was unable to immediately reach EMCO for comment.

EMCO is owned by Bulgarian arms trader Emilian Gebrev. Bulgarian prosecutors allege that Russian operatives were responsible for past attacks on his facilities. In 2024, Bulgaria issued an arrest warrant for six Russian citizens accused of involvement in the destruction of EMCO arms depots between 2011 and 2020. These depots were storing munitions destined for export to Ukraine and Georgia. Prosecutors also suggested potential links between the Bulgarian blasts, an attempted poisoning of Gebrev in 2015, and munitions depot explosions in the Czech Republic in 2014. Moscow has denied these allegations.