The US Department of Defense did not fully comply with vetting requirements for approximately $1 billion in military aid provided to Ukraine, an independent body within the Pentagon said Thursday. The announcement comes as Republican opponents of President Joe Biden continue to oppose additional aid to kyiv.
“As of June 2, 2023, serial number inventories for more than $1.005 billion (59%) of the total $1.699 billion in defense equipment covered by the EEUM were deficient,” the office of the Inspector General of the Pentagon, in a press release.
Several possible explanations
The EEUM designation refers to material which, due to its sensitive nature, is subject to increased surveillance regarding its use. This failure can be explained by factors such as the “limited number of American personnel in the logistics centers of partner countries and in Ukraine” and the restrictions imposed on the movements of surveillance personnel, the text specifies.
During a serial number inventory, inspectors write down or scan the equipment’s barcode, then update the information in a database, the inspector general’s office explained. “The high level of failure may be linked to the inability to maintain complete accounting of defense equipment subject to an EEUM designation,” he added, stressing that these deficiencies could “increase the risk of theft or embezzlement.
Missiles and drones concerned
The equipment affected includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Switchblade combat drones. “There is no credible evidence of illicit diversion of advanced conventional weapons provided by the United States to Ukraine,” assured Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder. Spearheading support for kyiv after the Russian invasion of February 2022, with tens of billions of dollars in aid, Washington has largely contributed to the resistance of Ukrainian forces.
But the United States does not have “the necessary funds to replenish these stocks,” warned Pat Ryder. Republicans have refused new budget spending for Ukraine requested by Joe Biden’s administration, demanding in exchange tougher measures on immigration. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Western hesitations over aid to his country, saying they encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin.