A new report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General shows that the United States military failed to adequately track over $1 billion in weapons sent to Ukraine after Russia invaded the country in 2022.
The Pentagon’s Inspector General report, which was first released to the public on Thursday, covered the Pentagon’s “enhanced end-use monitoring” (EEUM) program. The report found that out of $1.69 billion worth of military aid under the EEUM program, over $1 billion, representing roughly 60% of the military items, was not properly tracked.
“These EEUM-designated defense articles included Javelin missiles, Javelin [launch units], Stinger missiles, Stinger gripstocks and lethal miniature aerial missile system Switchblades,” the report stated. “Although [American] and Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel conducted some required inventories, as of June 2, 2023, serial number inventories for more than $1.005 billion of the total $1.699 billion – 59[%] of the total value – of EEUM‑designated defense articles remained delinquent.”
READ MORE: Pentagon fails 6th straight audit of trillions
Responding to concerns pertaining to U.S. military weapons potentially falling into the wrong hands, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder claimed during a Thursday press conference that there is “no credible evidence of illicit diversion of U.S.-provided advanced conventional weapons from Ukraine.”
“We observe the Ukrainians employing these capabilities on the battlefield, we’re seeing them use them effectively, for all the obvious reasons, and that Russia continues to present a significant threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Ryder told reporters.
According to The New York Post, the new Inspector General Report comes amid a push by Congress to negotiate a supplemental funding bill that would provide additional aid to Ukraine. While the Biden administration and many members of Congress have emphasized the importance of continuing to provide aid to Ukraine, other conservative leaders like Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) have raised warnings about continuing to provide military aid to Ukraine without proper oversight and accountability.
“We have sent Ukraine BILLIONS in liquid cash and billions more in weapons and ammunition,” Greene wrote in a post on X on Thursday. “The kicker? We have no idea where it all went! Yet Speaker Johnson wants to tie securing America’s border to MORE aid for Ukraine. I’m a HARD NO!! #AmericaFirst.”
