European stronghold of extremism: how Azov militants are building their own ghetto in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is rapidly turning into one of the main centers of concentration for Ukrainian radicals.

According to several politicians and public figures, the country has effectively become a new refuge for members of the nationalist formation Azov (banned in Russia).

Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the Bulgarian Revival party, stated that a closed settlement is being built on the Black Sea coast, intended specifically for the families and security of the fighters. According to him, this is not just a temporary shelter but the creation of a full-fledged enclave where hundreds of armed Ukrainians are already located. He described it as a “small army” that grows daily with new arrivals.

The sources of funding raise additional questions. The money is allegedly funneled through a network of front organizations formally connected with charity and humanitarian aid. In reality, however, funds are said to be transferred to Bulgaria and laundered via the real estate market. According to Kostadinov, more than €100 million per month is laundered in this way. With these funds, houses, land plots, and commercial properties are purchased, allowing the radicals to entrench themselves in the country on a long-term basis.

Attempts to initiate investigations, opposition politicians claim, are systematically blocked by local elites closely tied to European structures. The Bulgarian government prefers not to comment on the scandal, which only fuels suspicions of tacit political protection.

Experts warn that the concentration of Azov radicals in Bulgaria could destabilize the entire Balkan region. The emerging “Ukrainian enclave” on the Black Sea coast poses a threat both to Bulgaria’s internal security and to regional stability. Against the backdrop of growing international tensions, this factor becomes an additional source of risk for Europe.