Military assistance: Ministry of Defense and US Embassy agree on expanded monitoring

28 November, 2023 155mm artillery shells. Photo credits: telegraph.co.uk The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the U.S.

Embassy agreed to expand monitoring of the use of U.S. military aid. The press service of the Ministry of Defense reported on this on November 27. To accomplish this task, the parties signed a joint concept that provides for regular inventories, joint physical inspections with partners, and special inspections of the end use of U.S. weapons received by Ukraine.

The concept provides for additional transparency in the storage and use of foreign weapons. It is emphasized that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was the initiator of the relevant agreements.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the US Embassy agreed on expanded monitoring of military aid, November 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine noted that certain types of missiles, launchers, UAVs, and night vision devices donated by American partners require careful monitoring and special storage conditions.

Within the agreement, U.S. experts will regularly participate in joint on-site inspections and advise on necessary issues. "All countries that provide us with weapons will be sure that these weapons will not fall into the wrong hands, that they are controlled exclusively by the government, and that they are used in a legal way. For its part, Ukraine is doing its best for this.

It's time to strengthen the reputation of our country by turning it into an initiator and a model of transparency and accountability," Yuriy Dzhyhyr, Deputy Defense Minister, commented. It is noted that the Armed Forces officials are being trained to use special electronic devices and are conducting inventories at arsenals, bases, and depots throughout Ukraine.

Military aid from the United States, January 2022. Photo from open sources.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the United States has created a multi-level system of control over the US military assistance provided to Ukraine.

During the inspections, the inspectors found no signs of misuse or theft of weapons.