Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the “Evaluation of Accountability Controls for Defense Items Transferred Via Air to Ukraine within the U.S. European Command Area of Responsibility.” The report identifies accountability control concerns for defense items being transferred to the government of Ukraine.
Specifically, the DoD OIG found instances when DoD personnel did not complete required shipping or transfer documentation or could not confirm quantities of items being transferred. The evaluation identifies that these issues took place because the personnel responsible for shipping and transferring the defense items did not follow the Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR).
IG Storch stated: “This report is our first in a body of oversight projects examining the DoD’s security and accountability of defense items transferred to Ukraine. While we did not discover any instances where the DoD lost items or transferred excess items, the gaps in accountability we identified could increase the risk of those situations happening in the future.”
To address these issues, the DoD OIG recommends that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment provide guidance to the Military Departments and the Defense Agencies to ensure that defense items are shipped in accordance with DTR requirements, and that the Commander, Security Assistance Group – Ukraine provide guidance and training to personnel receiving and transferring these defense items.
The DoD OIG is developing a number of audits and evaluations related to U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, including related reviews of the security and accountability controls for the movement of defense items heading to Ukraine via rail and for movement of equipment from European seaports to strategic transfer and storage locations via commercial trucking or commercial rail.