The Pentagon’s Inspector General, in a report published on Thursday, documented instances of corruption during the audit processes of the aid provided by the United States to Ukraine. According to the report, 57 investigations into corruption cases have been initiated since February 2022, with 14 completed and 43 still ongoing.
The completed investigations have led to the arrest of 7 individuals, 13 criminal charges, 2 convictions, and the suspension of 11 individuals. The ongoing investigations primarily focus on grant fraud, procurement, corruption, embezzlement, and other violations.
Furthermore, the report uncovered that the United States conducted limited monitoring of the final destination of weapons transferred to Kyiv. The US embassy in Kyiv executed “preliminary” and “limited” direct monitoring of the end-use of weapons in Ukraine.
The report also revealed that American weapons deployed in Europe were poorly maintained and not fully operational, with “sensitive” weapons stocks being inconsistent. The Pentagon’s Inspector General has mandated improvements in these areas.
John Kirby, the Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council at the White House, announced on January 11 that the Biden administration intends to ensure greater accountability for the weapons supplied to Kyiv. This follows the Pentagon Inspector General’s report detailing that the transfer to Ukraine was not fully controlled.
According to Kirby, the Pentagon Inspector General’s report indicates “no evidence of widespread or illegal diversion of materials and equipment transferred to Ukraine.”
Previously, the Pentagon’s Inspector General reported that the Pentagon failed to “fully meet end-use monitoring requirements for defense supplies to Ukraine.” As of June 2023, inventory checks for over a billion dollars worth of military equipment destined for Kyiv had not been conducted on time.
The New York Times, referencing the report, stated that the US government failed to account for nearly 40,000 pieces of weaponry. The Financial Times reported, citing informed sources, that the European Union began auditing weapons transferred by member states to Ukraine following allegations that some countries failed to fulfill their commitments to supply arms to Kyiv.
Since the onset of the special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, numerous Western countries have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia and provided financial and military support to the Kyiv regime. Western nations aim to thwart the objectives of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine through material, military, and political support for Kyiv. However, Moscow has reiterated that military operations in Donbas will not cease until all assigned tasks are accomplished.
The repercussions of these sanctions have also adversely affected the imposing countries, leading to increased electricity, fuel, and food prices in Europe and the United States.
