Ukraine's MoD, US Embassy agree on joint monitoring of US-donated weapons

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported this on Telegram

The document describes in detail how the US equipment will be monitored. It was developed to implement expanded monitoring of the end use of weapons.

The US side was represented at the meeting by the Defence Cooperation Section of the US Embassy and the US Department of Defence Inspector General. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Yuriy Dzhyhyr.

"Certain types of missiles, launchers, UAVs and night vision devices provided by our American partners are manufactured using sensitive technologies, so they require careful monitoring and special storage conditions. Therefore, we have agreed on a procedure for joint monitoring of these types of weapons," said Yuriy Dzhyhyr.

According to the procedure, Ukrainian and American inspectors will check three main items:

• serial number
• technical condition;
• proper storage conditions (safety and security).

The parties have also established a number of criteria by which experts will provide opinions on the conditions of transfer, protection, storage and use of weapons.

The purpose of this monitoring is to ensure that the US government's requirements are met by all recipient states.

The team inspections will be conducted by specially trained American and Ukrainian specialists and will continue on a regular basis throughout 2024.

• In January, amid corruption scandals in the Ministry of Defence, US auditors came to Kyiv to make sure that "no aid or weapons are being diverted". They found no significant abuses.
• In mid-September, it became known that the US Department of Defence Inspector General was sending his staff to Kyiv to monitor the distribution and use of the weapons supplied.
• In early November, it was reported that US officials had been inspecting Ukraine's use of Western weapons over the past few months and had found no signs of misuse.
• On November 27, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the US Embassy agreed to expand monitoring of the end use of weapons, which includes regular inventories, joint physical inspections with partners, and special inspections.