The first warhead of the Bulgarian SS-23 missiles was destroyed without problems Tuesday at 11:03 am. The experimental demolition took place at the firing ground Zmeevo in the Stara Zagora district. The experimental demolition was attended by Defense Minister Svinarov, Environment Minister Dolores Arsenova and Bulgaria's armed forces commander Nikola Kolev. Eighty more warheads are to be destroyed at the firing ground, the defense minister announced. Three automatic stations were situated in the region near Zmeevo firing ground, which monitored the level of environment components. Readings of the environmental parameters reported after the test were within the normal range. Officials, journalists and citizens watched the explosion from a distance of 5.4 km from a place overlooking the village of Pustrovo. A state of normality was reported in Pustrovo, where the people stayed calm all the time. Bulgaria's SS-23 missiles are the last of that type known to exist and their destruction is seen as crucial for the country's chances to join NATO. Bulgaria hopes for an invitation to join the alliance during the summit later this year in the Czech capital Prague.