The Pentagon recognizes a high level of “failure” in monitoring military aid to Ukraine
This is disorganized at a time when Republican opponents of President Joe Biden are still refusing additional aid from Washington to Kiev: according to an independent body within the Pentagon, the American Department of Defense has not fully met the requirements in this area of control for around a billion dollars (approximately 910 million euros) in military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon's Office of the Inspector General announced on Thursday.
“As of June 2, 2023, serial number inventories were deficient for more than $1.005 billion (59%) of the total $1.699 billion in defense equipment covered by the EEUM,” the office said in a statement. The term EEUM refers to material whose use is subject to increased monitoring due to its sensitivity.
During a serial number inventory, inspectors record or scan the equipment's barcode and then update the information in a database, the inspector general's office explained. These failures can be explained by factors such as the “limited number of American employees in the logistics centers of partner countries and in Ukraine” and the restrictions on the freedom of movement of surveillance personnel, says the text, recalling that these deficiencies “increase the risk of theft or increase embezzlement.”
“There is no credible evidence of illegal diversion of advanced conventional weapons supplied by the United States to Ukraine,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said. The affected devices include Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Switchblade combat drones.
As the spearhead of support for Kiev after the Russian invasion in February 2022, Washington has contributed significantly to the resistance of the Ukrainian armed forces with aid worth tens of billions of dollars. But the United States does not have “the resources necessary to replenish these stocks,” warned Pat Ryder.
Republicans rejected new budget spending for Ukraine demanded by Joe Biden's administration and called for tougher immigration measures in return.