Pentagon uncovers $2 bln in extra weapon funds for Ukraine due to accounting mistakes – Reuters

The US Department of Defense uncovered an extra $2 billion worth of weapons for Ukraine thanks to identifying inaccuracies in accounting calculations. The Pentagon got into such a situation when accurately estimating the cost of military equipment sent to Ukraine due to unclear accounting definitions.

Reuters reports this.

As reported in the publication, in 2023, the US Department of Defense said it used "replacement value" instead of "depreciated value" to calculate the billions in materials sent to Ukraine.

This caused the error in the calculations of $6.2 billion, which was later used to send new aid.

The Pentagon added that another $2 billion in overspending has been discovered since then. As a result, additional weapons in the amount of $2 billion may be sent to Ukraine.

The U.S. Chamber of Accounts said that the inconsistencies in the report on the value of the aid provided were caused by the unclear definition of the value in the law on foreign aid and the lack of specific guidance on the assessment for the administration of the President of the United States.

For reference:

At the beginning of July, the United States of America announced the allocation of a new package of military aid to Ukraine. including Patriot air defense and ammunition.

The aid package provides the following:

• One Patriot battery;
• Ammunition for national advanced anti-aircraft missile systems (NASAMS);
• Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;
• Ammunition for highly mobile artillery rocket systems (HIMARS);
• 155-mm and 105-mm artillery shells;
• Equipment and missiles for optical tracking and wire guidance, launched from a tube (TOW);
• Missiles with wire guidance;
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems;
•  Ammunition for small arms; 
• Ammunition for detonation; 
• Spare parts, maintenance, and other support equipment.

In addition, the Office of the Inspector General of the Pentagon has launched a website where Americans can learn how the United States controls weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine as part of military aid.