Defense Department lost track of $1 billion in weapons sent to Ukraine, Pentagon watchdog says

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The Defense Department can’t account for more than $1 billion worth of missiles, drones and other sensitive military weapons and hardware that the U.S. sent to Ukraine to fight Russian invaders, according to a new audit by the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General.

The Defense Department watchdog said serial number inventories for more than $1 billion worth of firepower and equipment including shoulder-fired missiles, night vision goggles and one-way kamikaze drones, among others.

The Pentagon designates these weapons and equipment as requiring enhanced end-use monitoring (EEUM), which is currently delinquent.

Some of the most notable weapons on the list of those that require enhanced end-use monitoring are the Stinger anti-aircraft weapon and the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank weapon, which was given the nickname “Saint Javelin” by many of its current users in Ukraine.

More than half of the nearly $1.7 billion of the equipment sent to Ukraine requiring end-use monitoring was eventually released without proper accountability, officials said.

Investigators said multiple factors contributed to the gaps in reporting, including the limited number of U.S. personnel at logistics hubs outside Ukraine and the complete absence of procedures for conducting the checks in a hostile environment.

“While there has been significant improvement in the delinquency rate for inventorying this sensitive equipment, persistent gaps as identified in our evaluation may correlate with an inability to maintain complete accountability for this critical U.S. security assistance,” Pentagon IG Robert P. Storch said Thursday in a statement.

The audit was part of an ongoing series of reviews by the Defense Department’s IG office to assess how Pentagon officials have been tracking sensitive items that are particularly susceptible to theft or misuse.

Mr. Storch said it was beyond the scope of the IG review to determine whether there has been any diversion of the assistance provided to Ukraine. A Pentagon spokesman said there was no “credible evidence” that U.S.-provided conventional weapons have been illegally transferred.

“We do see some instances of Russia continuing to spread disinformation to the contrary, but the face is, as we observe the Ukrainians employing these capabilities on the battlefield, we’re seeing them use them effectively for all the obvious reasons,” Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon.

The IG report comes at a sensitive time for the Biden administration, which is struggling to convince a reluctant Congress to authorize a supplemental package for Ukraine worth more than $60 billion. 

“While Americans have supported Ukraine’s work to beat back Russia, our aid is not an act of charity,” said Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican. “It’s bolstering our own national security, and American taxpayers deserve to know that our resources are helping Ukraine defeat Putin effectively.”

The Pentagon IG report is likely to encourage Republicans in Congress who are arguing against sending additional funds to Ukraine.

Maj. Gen. Ryder said there have been improvements in ensuring the accountability of sensitive weapons that have been provided to Ukraine, including the use of handheld equipment scanners and having partner nations check items that will later transfer to Ukraine.

“The Ukrainians have offered unprecedented access to information, as it relates to the equipment that we’re providing,” Maj. Gen. Ryder said. “They are fully understanding and supportive of our need to ensure that we can account for the items. … We’ll continue to work closely with them.”