WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has admitted to overestimating the value of weapons sent to Ukraine by $6.2 billion over the past two years, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The accounting error, which is about double the initial estimates, has created a surplus that will be allocated for future security packages.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh explained that a thorough review of the accounting mistake revealed that the military services had used replacement costs instead of the book value of the equipment withdrawn from Pentagon stocks and provided to Ukraine. The final calculations show an error of $3.6 billion in the current fiscal year and $2.6 billion in the previous fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2022.
As a result of the surplus, the Pentagon now has additional funds at its disposal to support Ukraine in its ongoing counteroffensive against Russia. The timing is crucial as the fiscal year is coming to a close and congressional funding was beginning to diminish.
Singh clarified that the surplus would be added to the pool of money allocated for future Pentagon stock drawdowns. This revelation comes as Ukraine continues its efforts to dislodge Russian forces from occupied territory since a full-scale invasion in February 2022. The counteroffensive has encountered challenges such as heavily mined terrain and reinforced defensive fortifications.
In response, Russia has been launching numerous Shahed exploding drones, targeting the Kyiv region. Ukrainian air defenses successfully downed 32 out of 35 drones launched by Russia early Tuesday, but the assault has highlighted weaknesses in the country’s air protection after months of war.
US Military Aid for Ukraine
The Pentagon has utilized presidential drawdown authority on multiple occasions to expedite the provision of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Ukraine, bypassing the lengthy procurement process.
Previously, it was announced on June 13 that the United States had committed over $40 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. However, with the corrected calculation, the actual amount provided stands at less than $34 billion.
The exact remaining totals for drawdowns and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which supports long-term funding for weapon purchases, including larger air defense systems, have not been disclosed by officials.
The US has approved four rounds of aid to Ukraine, amounting to approximately $113 billion, in response to the Russian invasion. Some of this funding has been allocated for replenishing US military equipment sent to the frontlines. The latest aid package, approved by Congress in December, totaled roughly $45 billion for Ukraine and NATO allies. While intended to last until the end of the fiscal year in September, the situation on the ground, particularly with the new counteroffensive, may influence its duration.
President Joe Biden and his national security leaders have consistently affirmed the United States’ commitment to assisting Ukraine for as long as necessary to repel Russian forces. However, administration officials have privately cautioned Ukrainian counterparts about the limited patience of a closely divided Congress and the American public for the costs of an ongoing war with an uncertain conclusion.