SPECIAL IG MESSAGE
The U.S. Government has responded to Russia’s illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine with a $174.2 billion national-level effort to help Ukraine defend its sovereign territory, bolster the NATO alliance in Eastern Europe, support an enhanced U.S. military presence in the region, and provide direct budget, development, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The Special IG for Operation Atlantic Resolve is responsible for ensuring whole-of-government oversight and transparency of this multi-faceted and resource-intensive effort. In January 2024, I traveled to Ukraine and other nations in the region with my counterparts from State OIG and USAID OIG to obtain a first-hand update from U.S. and Ukrainian officials. We visited several organizations that receive U.S. assistance— including a health clinic and a power plant—and an enhanced end-use monitoring transfer site. In meetings with senior officials, my colleagues and I expressed the importance of accountability and transparency of U.S. assistance. The Ukrainian officials with whom we met agreed to notify OIG personnel— including our staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv—if there was any hint of fraud or abuse. In March, we launched UkraineOversight.gov, a new website to provide the public with comprehensive access to a wide range of information regarding the robust interagency oversight effort. The website will be updated regularly with the latest news and reports regarding the independent oversight of the U.S. Ukraine response from the OIGs for the DoD, State, and USAID, the GAO, and the other members of the Ukraine Oversight Interagency Working Group. As detailed in this quarterly report, conducting oversight in the midst of an intense wartime environment is a challenge our offices have risen to meet. We will continue to report quarterly on the status of OAR and the Ukraine response, other U.S. Government activity in Europe, and efforts to counter Russian aggression. I would like to thank all of the women and men who make this oversight effort possible, especially those stationed in and near Ukraine.
This second quarterly report submitted by the Special Inspector General for Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR) summarizes U.S. Government support to Ukraine and the broader response to Russia’s full-scale invasion, including support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), support for NATO partners, and U.S. military, diplomatic, and humanitarian activity.
Lead IG Designation
In 2014, the United States launched OAR as a response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the OAR mission has grown. In July 2023, the U.S. President signed an executive order approving the mobilization of select reserve forces in support of OAR. In August 2023, the U.S. Secretary of Defense designated OAR as an overseas contingency operation. The Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency designated the DoD IG as the Lead IG for OAR, effective October 18, 2023. The Lead IG coordinates oversight efforts with the State and USAID IGs along with other partner agencies. The DoD IG selected the State IG as the Associate Lead IG for OAR.
Lead IG Oversight Objectives
- Inform Congress and the public about ongoing contingency operations and the complex challenges facing the United States and its partners
- Advise the DoD and State on the effectiveness of their security assistance missions, and State and USAID on the effectiveness of their diplomatic, governance, stabilization, development, and humanitarian assistance missions
- Promote the integrity, efficiency, and accountability of U.S. Government operations and associated funding by deterring fraud, waste, and abuse
- Assess the impact of U.S. Government programs, including the capacity of host nation governments to sustain these programs, to improve U.S.-provided assistance and outcomes
- Evaluate the safety and security of facilities occupied by U.S. military and civilian personnel
FY 2024 OAR Oversight Highlights
ONGOING AND PLANNED PROJECTS: 96
Security Cooperation and Coordination: 35
- DoD OIG evaluations of the DoD’s routine and enhanced end-use monitoring of military equipment provided to Ukraine
- DoD OIG evaluation of the DoD’s replenishment and management of 155mm high explosive ammunition
- DoD OIG audits of the DoD’s training of Ukrainian Armed Forces
- State OIG evaluation of the implementation of the interagency strategy to counter illicit diversion of advanced conventional weapons in Eastern Europe
- State OIG audit of the Global Threat Reduction Program in Eastern Europe
- Army Audit Agency audit on missile replenishment and replacement
- Commerce OIG audit of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s enforcement of Russia and Belarus export controls
- GAO audit on cyber operations with allies and partners in Europe
- Treasury OIG audit of Office of Foreign Assets Control’s Ukraine/Russia related sanctions program
Non-Security Assistance and Coordination: 30
- State OIG audit of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine
- State OIG audit of State’s anti-corruption programs and activities in Eastern Europe
- USAID OIG audit of USAID’s energy activities in Ukraine
- USAID OIG evaluations of USAID’s direct budget support to Ukraine through the World Bank’s trust funds
- USAID OIG audit of USAID’s Bureau for Europe and Eurasia’s Programming to counter democratic backsliding
Management and Operations: 31
- DoD OIG audit of the DoD’s execution of funds provided for assistance to Ukraine
- DoD OIG audit of DoD’s controls for validating and responding to Ukraine’s requests for support
- State OIG audit of disposition of defensive equipment and armored vehicles in advance of evacuations at U.S. Embassies Kyiv and Kabul
- State OIG audit of emergency action planning at selected U.S. Embassies in the Baltic States
- USAID OIG evaluation of USAID’s policies and practices following ordered departures
- USAID OIG review of USAID’s Ukraine staffing
- GAO audit of DoD funding in support of Ukraine