Second Explosion in Weeks Hits Bulgarian Weapons Site With History of Alleged Russian Targeting

An explosion has caused a fire at a weapons-storage facility in central Bulgaria, the second such incident in a matter of weeks at a site reportedly operated by arms manufacturer EMCO.

The explosion occurred near Tsareva Livada, with the resulting fire spreading from warehouse to warehouse.

No injuries had been reported.

Local media identified the facility as belonging to EMCO, the Bulgarian arms company owned by businessman Emilian Gebrev.

The company’s history makes the latest incident particularly significant.

Bulgarian prosecutors have previously alleged that Russian operatives targeted Gebrev and facilities connected to EMCO.

In 2024, Bulgaria issued arrest warrants for six Russian nationals accused in connection with explosions at weapons depots containing ammunition destined for Ukraine and Georgia.

Bulgarian prosecutors have also linked those earlier incidents to the 2015 poisoning attempt against Gebrev and explosions at a Czech ammunition depot in 2014.

Russia has denied the allegations.

That history inevitably raises questions about the latest explosion.

But it does not answer them.

There is currently no established cause for Saturday’s explosion and no evidence publicly attributing it to Russia or any other actor.

The distinction is particularly important when dealing with suspected sabotage and hybrid warfare.

Europe’s ammunition industry has become strategically important as governments simultaneously support Ukraine and attempt to rebuild their own defence capabilities.

Facilities involved in producing and storing weapons therefore represent increasingly important pieces of European critical infrastructure.

That makes unexplained incidents worthy of serious investigation.

It does not make historical suspicion proof of responsibility for a new event.

The appropriate standard should be demanding in both directions.

Authorities should investigate aggressively, including examining whether sabotage played any role.

But governments, journalists and commentators should distinguish clearly between what previous investigations have alleged and what evidence establishes about this particular explosion.

Investigate aggressively. Publish the evidence. Do not turn suspicion into fact before the evidence exists.

More to follow.

Source: Reuters, 12 September 2026