Germany officially decided to send 14 tanks to Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz will allow allied countries that possess German-made tanks to send them to Kyiv.

Security expert Slavcho Velkov stated in the studio of the "Day ON AIR" program that in order for the Leopard tanks to appear in Ukraine, there must be someone to manage and maintain them. 

All about the topic:

Russian invasion of Ukraine 9064

"Germany has already made a decision and called on other countries that have such tanks to start training Ukrainian tankers. The training of a tank crew does not last a week, two or ten. They represent a legitimate goal for the Russian armed forces," commented Velkov. 

He added that the Ukrainian army has various armored vehicles, including Western production.

However, we are talking here about the striking power of tank troops. 

Putin: The purpose of the special military operation is above all the protection of the people and of Russia itself

"It's not about 14 tanks, Germany has lifted the ban on re-exports to countries with such tanks. If Zelensky is given 113 tanks, he will always want more, it's normal. This does not create a new phase in the war, but it will affect perceptions of the Russian command for the conduct of hostilities," Velkov emphasized to Bulgaria ON AIR.

The expert predicts that in separate directions the Russian army will take offensive actions, especially to control an important center like Bakhmut.

The town of Soledar turned out to be an important strategic point for the control of Bakhmut itself.

"The new phase will be the change in the use of some video combat equipment on the Russian side when these tanks appear. I do not rule out the possibility that these tanks will be used by non-Ukrainian crews. The new phase is the unification around political will after a short hesitation on the part of Germany." , Velkov thinks.

"There is a charter of neutral countries, and Bulgaria is in this charter. Countries that do not participate in war and do not support one or more of the countries participating in war. What makes all these countries neutral at the moment? That Russia has not declared war. He says that he is conducting a special military operation. If he declares war tomorrow, which is not excluded, then these countries will already become enemies. This war is now again NATO - Russia, only without the direct participation of manpower," the expert also said security.

How does Russia understand the article in "Die Welt" that Bulgaria saved Ukraine?

That he recognizes Bulgaria as one of the countries that most helped Ukraine in the first phase of the special military operation.

By declaring war, we will become a country that participates in the war.

We cannot save Ukraine with vests and helmets, Velkov pointed out 

The guest defined the burning of the Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Sweden as an act with an extremely high degree of European and global danger. 

"It is about Turkey and the religion of Islam. Now there is no going back. This can trigger radical actions outside the countries - to hit Swedish objects, and not only," warns Velkov.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Slavcho Velkov

Russia-Ukraine war