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Oopsies… Pentagon fat-fingers $6.2B to Ukraine
The Pentagon has revealed an ‘accounting error’ that has resulted in an additional $6.2 billion being allocated for Ukraine military aid. The error, which was discovered during a detailed review, occurred due to the military services using replacement costs instead of the book value when accounting for equipment sent to Ukraine from Pentagon stocks.
“A troop loses a f—ing canteen cup and it’s a negative counseling and a statement of charges. The DoD accidentlaly Venmos Ukraine enough money to buy South America, and it’s just an accounting error.”
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh explained that the accounting mistake resulted in an overestimation of the value of weapons sent to Ukraine over the past two years. The revised calculation shows an error of $3.6 billion in the current fiscal year, and an additional $2.6 billion for the 2022 fiscal year, which ended in September last year.
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The revelation of the accounting error comes as a welcome development for Ukraine — no sh*t — particularly as it intensifies its counteroffensive against Russian forces. The additional $6.2 billion will significantly bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities, providing much-needed resources to support its ongoing efforts in reclaiming occupied territories.
Since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s military forces have been engaged in an extensive war against extremely mined terrain and upgraded defensive defences. The additional funding will assist Ukraine in tackling these problems and providing its troops with the resources they need to carry out their missions effectively.
Singh further clarified that the accounting mistake would not disrupt the ongoing delivery of aid to Ukraine. Instead, the additional funds will be integrated into the existing budget allocation for future Pentagon stock drawdowns. This approach ensures that the United States can continue to swiftly provide essential resources to Ukraine, bypassing the traditional procurement process.
The timing of this discovery is significant, as it comes towards the end of the fiscal year when congressional funding was beginning to dwindle. The extra funds provide a timely boost to Ukraine’s defense efforts, ensuring that the country can sustain its operations and address evolving challenges on the ground.
The United States has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s security and has already committed substantial aid to assist the country in its struggle against Russian aggression. Based on earlier estimates, the U.S. had pledged over $40 billion in security assistance since the invasion. However, with the revised calculation, the actual aid provided is now understood to be less than $34 billion.
While the exact remaining funds for drawdowns and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative have not been disclosed, the additional $6.2 billion will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
This funding infusion underscores the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine’s struggle for stability and territorial integrity, especially as Congress approved a substantial round of aid amounting to roughly $45 billion in December.
