No evidence of fraud so far in weapons to Ukraine, says Pentagon IG

The Pentagon's inspector general said that to date his office has found no evidence that some of the billions of dollars in weapons and aid to Ukraine has been lost to corruption or diverted

The Pentagon's inspector general said on Tuesday that to date his office has found no evidence that some of the billions of dollars in weapons and aid to Ukraine has been lost to corruption or diverted into the wrong hands, but cautioned that those investigations are only in their early stages.

Keeping military aid to Ukraine protected from waste or fraud has become a critical part of keeping continued support for Ukraine intact in Congress, where some lawmakers have already begun to question why the US is spending so much to help Kyiv.

Robert P. Storch was pressed by Congress members several times about any fraud findings. He said that a number of tips and allegations have come in to a new hotline, but that there have been limited findings to date, with many reports pending.

 

Storch, who was testifying with other Pentagon leaders before the House Armed Services Committee, repeatedly said he did not want to talk about investigations that have not yet been completed.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, chairman committee, said that Congress has appropriated more than USD 100 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and NATO allies.

Of that, the US has doled out more than USD 75 billion so far, and that includes nearly USD 32 billion in Pentagon weapons and training to Ukraine since Russia's invasion.

These are unprecedented numbers. And it requires an unprecedented level of oversight by Congress, Rogers said.

Members of Congress have persistently questioned how closely the US is tracking its aid to Ukraine, ensuring that it is not subject to fraud or isn't ending up in the wrong hands.

The Pentagon has a robust program to track the aid as it crosses the border into Ukraine and to keep tabs on it once in country, depending on the sensitivity of each weapons system, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday at a press briefing. There's also a small team of Americans in country working with Ukrainians to do physical inspections when possible, but also virtual inspections when needed, since those teams are not going to the front lines of the war, Ryder said.

Questions over accountability in Ukraine come as some lawmakers push back against continued funding for the war. Earlier this month, a group of 11 House Republicans unveiled a Ukraine Fatigue resolution.

It stated that the US must end its military and financial aid to Ukraine and urged the combatants to reach a peace agreement.

Colin Kahl, under secretary of defence for policy, told lawmakers that the US has been careful to send Ukraine the weapons it needs, as the war progresses. And he said that he believes Ukrainian leaders are aware of concerns about accountability, and I do think they are taking these issues seriously.