President Iliana Yotova handed the national flag of the 35th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition to its leader, Prof Hristo Pimpirev, today.

The ceremony took place in the Coat of Arms Hall. The president's press secretary announced it earlier this week. The expedition's members had already presented their projects at a training camp in the town of Ahelo.

Where it began: Yotova to hand national flag to Bulgaria's 35th Antarctic expedition

Expedition members and official guests attended. The flag will fly at the Bulgarian base St Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island. Yotova said the tricolour will speak of Bulgaria's scientific achievements.

The president called the expedition a sign of the courage, strength, professionalism and knowledge of Bulgarian scientists and of Bulgarian polar science. She said Antarctica keeps not only the memory of the past but also the key to the planet's future.

The research ship NIK 421 Saints Cyril and Methodius will leave the Varna sea terminal for Livingston Island on 4 November. It will be the ship's fifth mission there.

Bulgarian teams will work on 18 science projects. Researchers from 11 countries are taking part: Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Colombia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Romania, the US and Uruguay.

The previous expedition, the 34th, in the 2025-2026 season, was one of the most successful in the history of Bulgaria's presence on the Icy Continent. Scientists at the base then worked on 35 Bulgarian and international projects, and a new laboratory block went into use.