SOPOT, BULGARIA (AUGUST 31, 2025) (ANADOLU – ACCESS ALL) SHOTLIST: 1. SIGN OF VMZ WEAPONS FACTORY IN SOPOT (2 SHOTS) 2. SECURITY MEASURES AROUND FACTORY 3. PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE VMZ WITH FLAGS AND BANNERS 4. PROTESTERS DISPLAYING BULGARIAN AND RUSSIAN FLAGS 5.SECURITY MEASURES AROUND FACTORY 6. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING SLOGANS AND CARRYING FLAGS AS SECURITY FORCES SURROUND AREA 7. VARIOUS OF LUXURY SPORTS CARS PARKED NEAR AREA 8. SIGN OF VMZ WEAPONS FACTORY/ PROTESTERS WAITING IN FRONT OF FACTORY SOPOT, BULGARIA - AUGUST 31: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Bulgaria’s largest arms factory in Sopot on Sunday, August 31, to review the country’s weapons production capacity together with Prime Minister Rosen Jelyazkov. During a briefing at the VMZ facility, von der Leyen said one-third of the weapons used by Ukraine had been produced in Bulgaria. She added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had shown no intention of ending the war, now in its fourth year, and stressed that the conflict was continuing on a large scale. Von der Leyen noted that the EU was investing heavily to strengthen its defense capacity, saying 150 billion euros had been allocated to the European Security Action (SAFE). She welcomed Bulgaria’s plans to establish two new weapons factories, one for gunpowder and another for artillery shells built to EU standards, adding that the projects would create 1,000 new jobs. “Our annual production capacity for artillery shells in the EU must reach two million. Bulgaria is actively contributing to Ukraine’s defense,” she said. Von der Leyen also stated that no one desired peace more than Ukraine, but that the country must be like “a steel, thorny hedgehog that the enemy cannot break.” Boyko Borisov, leader of the GERB party, told the briefing that Bulgaria had long developed its defense industry and that the new factories would produce 150,000 155mm shells and modern types of gunpowder while expanding personnel by 1,000. Meanwhile, members of the pro-Russian nationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party staged an anti-EU protest outside the VMZ factory. Demonstrators waved Bulgarian and Russian flags before police created a security cordon around the area and detained one protester. Von der Leyen is expected to continue her visit in Romania later on Sunday.