Table of Content:
Milko Stefanov
Summary: The publication presents an analysis of a major challenge in contemporary military art. Operational art is presented as the cognitive activity that links strategic goals with tactical actions. The main thesis is that success at the operational level is not a matter of choosing between strict adherence to doctrine or unlimited adaptability, but lies in achieving a synthesis between the two. It is argued that military doctrine should not be viewed as an unchangeable set of rules, but as a guiding framework that provides a shared understanding and a starting point for planning.
In conclusion, the publication summarizes that the future of operational art depends on the ability of armed forces to promote adaptive thinking through training and education, to develop flexible doctrinal frameworks, and to build an organizational culture of continuous learning and proactive adaptation.
Keywords: operational art, military doctrine, adaptability, modern conflicts.
Plamen Atanasov
Summary: The development of solutions indistinguishable according to its creator is proposed in the work as a fundamental criterion for the presence of artificial intelligence (AI), no matter whether it is of a digital or other type. The goal is not to justify or reject the information-dominated nature of modernity, but to increase the effect of cognitive and instrumental efforts in the direction of implementing the computer metaphor in the management processes of labour, with which a person actively fits into the environment. The positives and negatives are examined in the context of security, with an emphasis on the Safety Principle.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Decision making, Security, Detection criteria.
Monika Panayotova
THE DEFENSE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE CONTEXT OF PREDICTABLE UNPREDICTABILITY
Summary: The article aims to show how the EU is choosing the path of shared, but not common, security and defense, focusing on the European defense industry, but not on deepening the military-political cooperation and integration necessary to cope with predictable unpredictability. Using a multidisciplinary approach, mind mapping and effectuation methods, the analysis presents the numerous initiatives in the field of European defense and makes recommendations for building an effective European Defense Union with strategic and military autonomy.
Keywords: CSDP, European defense industry, military-political integration, causality, entrepreneurship, Readiness 2030, EU-NATO, effectuation theory.
Ralitsa Borisova
HYBRID OPERATIONS AS AN INSTRUMENT OF CONTEMPORARY STRATEGIC CONFRONTATION
Summary: The article explores hybrid operations as a key instrument in the context of contemporary strategic confrontation and their impact on the security environment. It presents the theoretical and functional aspects of hybrid actions, the conceptual distinction between hybrid war, hybrid threat, and hybrid operation, as well as a classification of hybrid operations based on applied means and domains of influence.
Keywords: Hybrid Warfare, Hybrid Operations, Security, Grey Zone, Lawfare.
Mihail Peev
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE MACROREGIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE BLACK SEA-CASPIAN REGION
Summary: This article examines the Black Sea-Caspian region as a geopolitical category. The study applies Thierry de Montbrial's theory of macroregions constituting large regional groups. A conceptual framework was formed that represents the Black Sea-Caspian area as a large, heterogeneous regional group that includes seven macroregions.
Keywords: Black Sea-Caspian Region, macroregional structure, macroregion Russia, macroregion Turkey, macroregion Iran, Euro-Atlantic Black Sea coast, Buffer zone, South Caucasus, Central Asia.
Valentin Vasilev, Vesela Serafimova
Summary: This article explores the possibilities of applying modern competency frameworks in the management of security service employees. The main goal is to analyze the theoretical foundations, applicability and challenges related to the implementation of the competency approach in the Security sector, as well as to present good international practices and opportunities for their adaptation in Bulgarian conditions. A combined approach was used, including theoretical analysis and empirical research conducted among security service employees in the city of Blagoevgrad using a survey method.
The results show that most respondents have partial awareness of the competency frameworks, but perceive their implementation as a significant factor in increasing the effectiveness of human resources management. The most strongly expressed expectations are for improvement in the selection, assessment and career development processes, while the main challenges are associated with the lack of clarity, expert capacity and organizational culture for change.
The analysis of international practices (NATO, European Union and other institutions) shows that competency frameworks are an effective tool for strategic personnel management, ensuring transparency, professionalism and interoperability. On this basis, the article offers guidelines for the development of a national competency framework for the Security sector in Bulgaria, which would unite institutional efforts and support the development of human potential in accordance with international standards.
Keywords: competency frameworks, human resource management, security services, professional development, organizational effectiveness.
Daniel Berchev
UNDERSTANDING ATROCITY SITES: DEFINITION, TYPES, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACE AND SECURITY
Summary: This article examines the concept of “atrocity sites” – physical locations of mass atrocities and human rights violations – and analyzes their varieties and their impact on peace and security. Definitions of atrocities and a typology of the places where such acts are committed are introduced, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and other mass violations. The article considers the theoretical frameworks related to these sites, as well as practical aspects of addressing them – from preserving evidence and memory to the role of the international community and UN peacekeeping operations. Examples are presented from conflicts such as Syria, Ukraine, and Ethiopia, alongside historical cases (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda, etc.), and different perspectives on the “peace vs. justice” dilemma are discussed. The working hypothesis is that understanding and appropriately managing atrocity sites – through pursuit of accountability and memorialization – contributes to sustainable peace and prevention of future conflicts. A comparative analysis of literature, a review of UN documents, NGO reports, and case examples are used to test this hypothesis.
Keywords: Atrocity Sites, Mass Atrocities, War Crimes, Peacekeeping Operations, Peace and Security.
Dafinka Sidova
DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AS A THREAT TO FREEDOM FROM FEAR IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN SECURITY
Summary: This publication focuses on the increasing cases of crimes committed by children and adolescents as manifestations of delinquent behavior. The socially dangerous nature of delinquent behavior leads to heightened insecurity and fear among individuals, particularly among those who belong to vulnerable groups in society. Since freedom from fear is one of the three fundamental pillars of the Human Security Concept, the study seeks to demonstrate that delinquent behavior threatens this essential freedom that is vital for every human being.
Keywords: Delinquent behavior, Freedom from fear, Human Security, Threat.
Valeria Doncheva
RESEARCH ON THE FEATURES OF THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONAL ATTITUDE AMONG SECURITY WORKERS
Summary: The article presents a study of the characteristics of the authoritarian personality in order to reveal the influence of biological, psychological and social factors on authoritarian behavior among security system workers.
Keywords: authoritarian personality, influence, biological, psychological, social factors authoritarian behavior, security system workers.
Daniel Berchev
ADDRESSING ATROCITY SITES IN UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS – CHALLENGES AND APPROACHES
Summary: Atrocity sites such as mass grave locations and massacre scenes pose critical challenges and responsibilities for United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations. This article examines how UN peacekeepers have addressed these sites, integrating both theoretical frameworks and practical case studies from past and contemporary missions. It argues that effectively securing and investigating atrocity sites – through evidence preservation, support to justice mechanisms, and memorialization – is essential for accountability and sustainable peace.
Keywords: UN Peacekeeping, Atrocity Sites, Mass Graves, Transitional Justice, Accountability, Post-conflict Justice.
Teodora Licheva
Summary: The article presents the possibilities of soft robotics, which is a revolutionary discovery in security applications, offering systems that are inherently safer, more adaptable and capable of operating in complex environments inaccessible to traditional rigid robots. These biologically inspired systems use deformable materials to create robots with unprecedented flexibility and resilience, making them ideal for critical tasks in infrastructure protection, search and rescue operations, and monitoring of hazardous environments.
Keywords: Soft Robotics, Security Systems, Blockchain Security, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Materials.
Valeria Doncheva
Summary: This article aims to examine the interpersonal relationships and personality traits of employees in the security sector, to analyze their importance for the professional environment, and to apply a model for the diagnosis and interpretation of interpersonal behavior.
Keywords: interpersonal relationships, personality traits, employees, security sector, professional environment, behavior.
Ognyan Kostadinov
ETHICS IN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE: DILEMMAS, PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICES
Summary: The article examines the ethical aspects of human intelligence as a specific domain of national security. It analyzes the moral dilemmas that arise in the process of collecting, processing, and using information through covert methods, with particular emphasis on the recruitment and handling of human sources (HUMINT). Attention is paid to the relationship between professional ethics, legality, and the need to protect the public interest. Key guidelines for developing an ethical code and addressing conflicts between national security and universal moral principles are outlined.
Keywords: Ethics, Human Intelligence, Moral Dilemmas, Professional Code, National Security, Covert Operations, Agent Recruitment.
Valeri Nikolov
Summary: A content analysis of the messages of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the period 2022-2025 was conducted to identify a change in the EU's position on the military actions in Ukraine.
Keywords: Annual Reports of the EC, Russia, Ukraine.
Dimitar Panchev, Kostadin Bakov
Summary: The reintegration of individuals convicted of violent or extremism-related offenses represents one of the most complex challenges at the intersection of criminology, social policy, and security governance. This paper examines post-prison reintegration and deradicalization through a comparative criminological lens, drawing on both international best practices and the Bulgarian context. Using theoretical frameworks from social disorganization, labeling, and desistance theories, the study argues that successful reintegration requires a shift from punitive and surveillance-oriented models toward socially grounded and preventive approaches. Comparative analysis of the Aarhus Model (Denmark), EXIT-Germany, and the Dutch Comprehensive Approach reveals that cross-disciplinary, individualized support, and community engagement are the strongest predictors of long-term success. Conversely, overly securitized and ideologically driven interventions tend to reinforce stigmatization and social exclusion. The Bulgarian case, though lacking systemic prison radicalization, exhibits structural vulnerabilities: limited inter-agency coordination, insufficiently trained social workers, and weak post-release support mechanisms. The paper concludes that integrating social work into correctional and post-correctional practice can bridge the gap between security and social inclusion. It recommends the establishment of multi-agency case management teams, professional training in deradicalization, and community-based reintegration networks. Ultimately, the study positions social work as both a criminological and preventive resource – an instrument of social resilience that transforms reintegration from a technical task into a shared societal responsibility.
Keywords: post-prison reintegration; deradicalization; social work; rehabilitation, criminology.
Stanislav Stanev
Summary: The present analysis examines the legal status of the graves of voivodes and komiti located within the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. The issue is considered from the perspective of international humanitarian law and international cultural heritage law. The main objective is to analyze whether, and to what extent, such graves may be classified as military within the meaning of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
Keywords: voivodаs (commanders of irregular units), revolutionaries, graves, Geneva Conventions, international humanitarian law, cultural heritage.
Vladimir Statev, Daniel Totev
DO-IT-YOURSELF BODY ARMOR: MYTH OR TRUTH?
Summary: The global security environment changes. Violence levels are rising. A large number of individuals search for cost effective solutions for personal protection. The article presents the crafting process, mathematical expectations for penetration depth and the results of field testing of non-manufactured ballistic plates made using widely available materials. The research indicates that creating a functioning body armor is possible, but the protection level of such Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ballistic plates is limited.
Keywords: Ballistic Plate, Body Armor, Do-It-Yourself, Personal Protection, Projectile Penetration.
Krasimir Koynakov
Summary: This article presents a study of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for healthy nutrient intake and the recommended physiological norms of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria for the nutrition of the population of Bulgaria. The possible risks for non-communicable diseases due to the incorrect intake of nutritional elements are described, as well as the national nutrition policy of the population of Bulgaria, the average energy needs of adults and the recommended/adequate dietary intake of macronutrients.
Keywords: nutrients, military personnel, non-communicable diseases.