The Department of Defense (DOD) overestimated the value of weapons sent to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion, a spokesman said Tuesday, adding that the additional cash would be used for further aid.
An accounting error led the Department of Defense to value weapons based on replacement costs rather than the system’s book value for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, leading to a $6.2 billion overstatement. This is double the previous estimate, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. at Tuesday’s briefing. The surplus will be used for additional support measures before the end of the year, she added.
“It’s just a reintroduction of the money we allocated for future DoD stock drawdowns,” Mr. Singh said.
The Pentagon previously revealed that an accounting error caused a nearly $3 billion discrepancy, The Associated Press reported. report. Further scrutiny of this error revealed that weapons were overvalued by $3.6 billion in 2023 and by $2.6 billion in fiscal 2022, which ends Sept. 30. (Related: Leaked documents seem to show US suspicion of Ukraine’s expected counterattack: report)
The revelation comes as the 2023 congressional budget cycle is nearing its end, with details of the remaining funding for further security measures unclear, according to the Associated Press.
The Biden administration reported a total of $40.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2021 after the latest piece of weapons and equipment was unveiled on June 13. according to to the factsheet. But the real number could be just under $34 billion.
Most of that aid is authorized through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the Pentagon to draw money directly from existing U.S. stocks, which would cause accounting errors. The remainder of US arms aid is contracted directly from the defense industry through a program called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Congress last December set aside $45 billion to supply both Ukraine and backfill facilities allocated in Kiev by the US and NATO allies.
.@SecDef: Together we will uphold a rules-based international order that keeps us all safe. And together we will support Ukraine as long as it is needed. pic.twitter.com/0xeMeAIy6I
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@Deptof Defense) April 21, 2023
Two weeks ago, Ukraine launched a long-awaited counterattack aimed at driving Russia out of territory it had occupied since the beginning of the war. Experts said Ukraine timed its strikes based on when the necessary equipment from the West arrived at the front lines.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: “We have given the Ukrainian Armed Forces significant training and great capabilities, but war is fluid, dynamic and unpredictable.” Said “The fight for Ukraine is not an easy sprint to the finish line.
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