WASHINGTON – The US military failed to track more than $1 billion in weapons shipped to Ukraine — which it was supposed to monitor — between February and June last year, according to a new Pentagon Inspector General report published Thursday.
The news comes as Congress again prepares to debate continued aid to the war-torn country as the second anniversary of its invasion by Russia approaches.
The IG report analyzed the Defense Department’s “enhanced end-use monitoring” (EEUM) program, which is required for certain types of small arms that are most vulnerable to being intercepted and redirected to the black market.
“The defense articles specified by the EEUM include the Javelin missile, the Javelin [launch units]Stinger missiles, stinger holds and miniature air missile systems disable Switchblades,” the report said.
Although the US has earmarked more than $45 billion for Ukraine’s military aid since 2021, the report considers only the weapons designated by the EEUM sent by the US and international partners, which amount to about $1.7 billion over the time period under review.
“Though [American] and the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out some necessary inventories, as of June 2, 2023, inventory of serial numbers for more than $1.005 billion of the total amount of $1.699 billion – 59[%] of the total value – the EEUM-designated defense articles remain outstanding,” the report said.
According to the Inspector General’s report, the Pentagon lost track of more than $1 billion in weapons shipped to Ukraine — including Javelin anti-tank missiles (pictured). Getty Images by Julie Bennett/Getty Images The DoD IG does not suspect any of the equipment ended up on the black market, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. General Pat Ryder. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf
While that represents only a fraction of the more than tens of billions in weapons and military equipment Kyiv has received since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022, it is the first glimpse of Americans getting involved in Washington’s efforts to promote accountability for the aid.
The news comes as Congress reconvenes this week to try and complete a supplemental funding bill that would provide additional funding for Ukraine, as well as Israel, Taiwan and southern border security. Without the bill, the US has run out of money to pay more aid to Kyiv.
House Republicans have raised concerns about continued aid to Ukraine, with some, including Rep. Majorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.), right wing, suggested the issue with keeping guns in the right hands.
“We have sent billions in cash to Ukraine and billions more in arms and ammunition,” Taylor-Greene wrote to X Thursday, linking to the report. “The kicker? We don’t know where it goes! Yet Speaker Johnson wants to tie America’s border security to MORE aid for Ukraine. I HARD NO!! #AmericaFirst.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has raised concerns about the Pentagon losing track of military aid to Ukraine. Getty Images
However, the DoD IG found no reason to believe that any undetected equipment ended up on the black market, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. General Pat Ryder told reporters.
“There is no credible evidence of illegal diversion of US-provided advanced conventional weapons from Ukraine,” Ryder said. “We see some examples of Russia continuing to spread misinformation, but the fact is, we see the Ukrainians using this capability on the battlefield. [and] we see them using it effectively.”
While that may be the case, the watchdog is not actively looking for evidence that such weapons end up in the wrong hands, he said.
“It is beyond the scope of our assessment to analyze whether there has been such diversion of aid,” the report said.
Buildings burn in Kyiv after a Russian missile attack on January 2, 2024. Photo by Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Still, Ryder’s claims about Moscow spreading false rumors about corruption follow a trend of Kremlin efforts to spread lies about Kyiv to sway US opinion on continued aid.
The DoD IG has since stationed personnel in Ukraine, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) “continues to investigate allegations of criminal conduct with respect to US security assistance to Ukraine,” according to the report.
To improve auditing, the agency made five recommendations to the DoD, to include “improv[ing] inventory procedures” and work with the State Department “to increase visibility of third-party transfers” of EEUM-designated equipment prior to shipment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
