U.S. estimates for the cost of the weaponry it has shipped to Ukraine over the previous two years were too low, leaving a surplus that will be put towards future security aid. This excess is projected to be $6.2 billion.
Deputy Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated at a news briefing on Tuesday that an investigation uncovered “inconsistencies” in appraisals of equipment provided from the US since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The value of the equipment shipped to Ukraine from the United States was overstated because “in a significant number of cases, services used replacement costs rather than net book value,” Singh explained.
According to the spokesperson, the total for the fiscal years of 2022 and 2023 was $6.2 billion. Singh emphasized that Washington’s “provision of support to Ukraine” was not affected by the “valuation errors.” Because of this, the Department of Defense has more resources available to aid Ukraine in its counteroffensive against Russia. And it arrived just when Congress’s budget was running low as the fiscal year wound down. Singh said that the funds will be redirected to the Pentagon’s stock drawdown fund. The news breaks as Ukraine launches its initial counteroffensive to retake territory that has been seized by Russian soldiers since their full-scale invasion in February 2022. Chief of Staff Valerii Zaluzhnyi of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the counteroffensive has been met by extensively mined terrain and improved defensive positions.
Since Russia’s invasion, the United States has pledged about $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine, according to prior estimates given on June 13. The United States has given less than $34 billion in help if the revised figure is used. Military hardware including suicide drones, armored personnel carriers, and long-range rocket weapons have all been part of the aid package. When it comes to fighting against the Russian invasion, the United States is by far Ukraine’s most valuable friend.