21 January, 2024
Ukraine and the United States conducted the first joint inspection of the transferred U.S. weapons.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported on this.
Officials of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with officials of the U.S. Embassy’s Defense Cooperation Section, took part in the inspection of weapons and property.
An inspection of weapons provided by U.S. partners took place in one of the military units.
Inspection of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. January 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Ukrainian and U.S. inspectors checked three main items:
- serial numbers,
- technical condition,
- proper storage conditions (safety and security).
The Ministry of Defense said that the information received is currently being processed. There were no remarks from U.S. officials during the joint work.
Inspection of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. January 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Joint end-use inspections of partner-provided weapons will continue.
“Ensuring access to storage sites, openness, and systematic joint inspections are concrete measures we are taking to increase transparency and build trust with our partners,” commented Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Dzhyhyr.
Inspection of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. January 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
On November 27, 2023, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the U.S. Embassy agreed to expand monitoring of the use of U.S. military aid.
To accomplish this task, the parties signed a joint concept that provides for regular inventories, joint physical inspections with partners, and special inspections of the end use of U.S. weapons received by Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the US Embassy agreed on expanded monitoring of military aid, November 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense
The concept provides for additional transparency in the storage and use of foreign weapons. It is emphasized that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was the initiator of the relevant agreements.
Military aid from the United States, January 2022. Photo from open sources.
The plan of joint physical inspections for the first half of 2024 was agreed upon with the U.S. side on December 14, 2023.
I highly welcome mutual inspections and audits of the equipment we gave to Ukraine. It not only helps to curb abuses, but also helps to build trust between the two nations.
And also takes away an excuse the magaputler Republicans are using to block aide to Ukraine.
(“magaputler Republicans” are, of course, a subset of all Republicans.)
Of course.
Should be obvious, but some people seem to need to have it spelled out.
I totally agree with the comments posted by onlyfactsplease. These joint inspections are a very important step to reassure the American taxpayer and Congress that the tens of billions of dollars of our military equipment sent to Ukraine is not being misappropriated and is being appropriately stored and utilized. Given the massive theft, fraud and misappropriation of billions of dollars of American equipment and economic support which occurred in Iraq and Afghanistan (just to name two examples), it is more than reasonable that some in Congress insisted that our support be audited to minimize the opportunity for improper diversion. As Reagan said decades ago, “trust but verify”. Hopefully those of us who support Ukraine can all agree that any steps taken to build mutual trust between Ukraine and the US Congress and taxpayer is a very good thing indeed!