Pentagon Sends Ukraine Extra $6.2 Billion Military Aid Due to Accounting Error

Due to an accounting error, the Pentagon has sent Ukraine an excess of $6.2 billion worth of military aid, including defense weaponry.

The Pentagon spokesperson admits to the embarrassing error that has inadvertently resulted in a massive boost to Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Pentagon Sends Ukraine Extra $6.2 Billion Military Aid

According to CNN, the error led to a jaw-dropping surplus of $6.2 billion, which the Pentagon mistakenly allocated to Ukraine's military aid package. Even the most meticulous institutions are not immune to the occasional hiccup.

Ukraine embroiled in a long-standing conflict with Russia, has been yearning for additional resources to bolster its defense capabilities. Little did they know that a simple accounting mistake would provide them with a stroke of good fortune. The Pentagon revealed the excess military aid last May and estimated it was worth around $3 billion. The error frustrated Republicans, believing the mishap had reduced the country's military aid for Ukraine's counteroffensive.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul and House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers addressed the mishap in a joint statement last month. They wrote, "These funds could have been used for extra supplies and weapons for the upcoming counteroffensive, instead of rationing funds to last for the remainder of the fiscal year."

However, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh explains that the excess money is "just going to go back into the pot of money that we have allocated."

According to the Associated Press (AP), the Pentagon spokeswoman revealed that the final calculations show that the error created an excess of funds worth $3.2 billion for the current fiscal year. On the other hand, the 2022 fiscal year includes $2.66 billion. All in all, the extra money the US sent to Ukraine cost more than $6 billion.

Pentagon Explains Accounting Error

According to Channel News Asia (CNA), Singh disclosed that the Pentagon discovered the massive accounting error last month while diving into the protocols for valuing equipment.

She further explained that the error specifically used the replacement costs of the weaponry rather than their net book value, leading to a significant overestimation of value. Thus, the US sent excessive Ukraine military aid money that was intended.

The Pentagon has assured the public that measures are being taken to rectify the accounting mistake swiftly. The surplus funds are expected to be considered additional money to support Ukraine as it has started its counteroffensive against Russia.

AP News notes that the commander in chief of the Ukraine armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, says their counteroffensive primarily focuses on heavily mined terrains and reinforced defensive fortifications.