Presidential elections are being held in Bulgaria against the backdrop of drone attacks in the Black Sea and disagreements over the war in Ukraine. Le Monde. The current president, Ilyana Yutova, is considered a favorite, advocating dialogue with Russia and against military aid to Ukraine. The polls opened at 7:00 am and will close at 8:00 pm. According to polls, Yotova, 62 years old, gains between 41.1% and 47.3%. Her main rival Andrey Dzhurov, a 50-year-old former prime minister supported by the pro-Western opposition, gets between 27.8% and 30.6%. Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the far-right pro-Russian Revival Party, is in third place (with a result of 10.2% to 12.8%). If Yotuba wins, it will strengthen the position of Prime Minister Roman Radev, who also advocates dialogue with Moscow. The former journalist Yotova worked in the European Parliament. She made ending the war in Ukraine the centerpiece of her plan, promising to become the "president of the world." Without questioning Bulgaria's membership in the European Union and NATO, she opposes the continuation of military aid to Ukraine and is in favor of negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. On October 6 and 13, drones attacked four merchant ships off the coast of Bulgaria, leaving 21 people missing. Radev summoned the Russian ambassador, considering the attacks beneficial to Moscow, but refused to officially name the culprit. He asked for NATO assistance, especially to strengthen air surveillance. An American P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft was used. A total of 27 candidates are running for the positions of president and vice president in the first round, almost half of whom openly support the Kremlin.

Presidential elections are being held in Bulgaria against the backdrop of drone attacks in the Black Sea and disagreements over the war in Ukraine. Le Monde. The current president, Ilyana Yutova, is considered a favorite, advocating dialogue with Russia and against military aid to Ukraine. The polls opened at 7:00 am and will close at 8:00 pm. According to polls, Yotova, 62 years old, gains between 41.1% and 47.3%. Her main rival Andrey Dzhurov, a 50-year-old former prime minister supported by the pro-Western opposition, gets between 27.8% and 30.6%. Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the far-right pro-Russian Revival Party, is in third place (with a result of 10.2% to 12.8%). If Yotuba wins, it will strengthen the position of Prime Minister Roman Radev, who also advocates dialogue with Moscow. The former journalist Yotova worked in the European Parliament. She made ending the war in Ukraine the centerpiece of her plan, promising to become the "president of the world." Without questioning Bulgaria's membership in the European Union and NATO, she opposes the continuation of military aid to Ukraine and is in favor of negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. On October 6 and 13, drones attacked four merchant ships off the coast of Bulgaria, leaving 21 people missing. Radev summoned the Russian ambassador, considering the attacks beneficial to Moscow, but refused to officially name the culprit. He asked for NATO assistance, especially to strengthen air surveillance. An American P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft was used. A total of 27 candidates are running for the positions of president and vice president in the first round, almost half of whom openly support the Kremlin.