Three out of the 500 Bulgarian rangers serving the NATO mission in Afghanistan suffered serious injuries from a Taliban rocket blast Sunday night. Photo by BGNES
The Bulgarian rangers in Kandahar, who sustained the most serious injuries, remain in Afghanistan, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry officially confirms Tuesday.
According to a Ministry press release, sent to the media, 3 out of the 4 servicemen, who were injured during a Taliban rocket attack Sunday night, are moved to the modern US field hospital in the Bagram Air Base near Kabul.
American neurosurgeons are taking extreme care to stabilize Sergeant Alexandar Alexandrov, who suffered the most serious injuries. He is in critical condition and his life is still in danger. Corporal Yordan Petkov, who has stomach wounds, and Private, Yavor Ivanov, with leg and ankle injuries, have undergone second surgeries. Both are reported in stable condition.
Their transport to Germany is still in the plans, but will be scheduled when the condition of the 3 allows it.
The injured rangers are accompanied by Captain Dr. Petar Minchev, one of the 4 Bulgarian medics, who are part of the Kandahar contingent while Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. Ventsislav Mutafchiyski – one of Bulgaria’s top neurosurgeons is scheduled to leave for Germany when the injured arrive there. Mutafchiyski has taken part in several missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.