Inspector General Robert P. Storch has announced that the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General has released the report “Evaluation of Land-Based Security Controls for Equipment Being Transferred by Rail to Ukraine.” (The report is classified and has not been made public.)
The assessment report addresses DoD security controls for the movement and ground transfer of cargo heading to Ukraine by rail in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. This transportation and transfer of equipment by rail is part of DoD’s support to the Government of Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority.
The DoD OIG found that DoD personnel effectively planned, coordinated, and executed the movement of defense articles to Ukraine by rail. However, during transfer operations, DoD guard forces did not consistently apply security controls in accordance with applicable regulations. This was because the US Army in Europe and Africa did not provide written guidelines specifying responsibilities for planning and overseeing the security in transit of these defense articles.
Additionally, the Department of Defense OIG found that the United States Army in Europe and Africa was not guiding its subordinate commands on applying existing in-transit security procedures for the shipment of these defense items. This lack of implementation led to inconsistencies and gaps in mission preparation for transit guard forces, and resulted in non-existent, incomplete or inaccurate transport documentation. In one case, due to incomplete documentation and mission preparation, a corps of security guards was unaware that the vehicles they were guarding contained sensitive items.
To resolve these issues, the Department of Defense OIG recommended that the US Army prepare and issue written orders assigning responsibilities for planning and implementing ground transportation security and moving sensitive items to Ukraine. The Department of Defense OIG also recommended that the United States Army direct its subordinate commands to implement current transportation safety standards immediately.
IG Storch stated: “The security and accountability of U.S. support to Ukraine is a major focus of the Department of Defense OIG. “We continue to review processes and procedures and make recommendations to reduce the risk of diversion or theft of these items during transfer processes.”
US Department of Defense
