FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the report “Evaluation of Land-Based Security Controls for Equipment Being Transferred by Rail to Ukraine.” The evaluation report addresses DoD’s security controls for the ground movement and transfer of cargo headed to Ukraine by rail in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. This transportation and transfer of equipment by rail is part of DoD’s support to the Government of Ukraine under Presidential Drawdown Authority.
The DoD OIG found that DoD personnel effectively planned, coordinated, and executed the movement of defense articles for transfer to Ukraine by rail. However, during the transfer operations, DoD guard forces did not consistently implement security controls in accordance with existing regulations. This occurred because U.S. Army Europe and Africa did not provide written guidance specifying responsibilities for planning and supervising the in-transit security of these defense articles.
Additionally, the DoD OIG found that U.S. Army Europe and Africa did not provide guidance to its subordinate commands regarding the enforcement of existing in-transit security procedures for the shipment of these defense items. This lack of enforcement led to inconsistencies and gaps in mission preparation for the in-transit guard forces, and resulted in missing, incomplete, or inaccurate transportation documentation. In one instance, due to incomplete paperwork and mission preparation, a security guard force was unaware that the vehicles it was guarding contained sensitive items.
To address these issues, the DoD OIG recommended that U.S. Army Europe and Africa prepare and issue written orders assigning responsibilities for planning and implementing security for the ground transport and transfer of sensitive items for movement to Ukraine. The DoD OIG also recommended that U.S. Army Europe and Africa provide an order to its subordinate commands to immediately enforce existing in-transit security standards.
IG Storch stated, “The security and accountability of U.S. support to Ukraine is a primary focus of effort for the DoD OIG. We continue to review the DoD’s processes and procedures and make recommendations to reduce the risk of diversion or theft of these items during the transfer processes.”