U.S. Military Inspectors Resume Operations

The U.S. has redeployed weapons inspectors to Ukraine to ensure the large amounts of military equipment supplied is properly accounted for, reports NBC News.

The inspections, led by Brig. Gen. Garrick Harmon, the U.S. defense attache to Ukraine, are underway with several already completed, according to an unnamed defense official.

The Ukrainians have been “very transparent” and are supporting the inspections, the official said.

Checks took place prior to Russia’s unprovoked invasion in February but were halted for several months due to the fighting.

The Biden administration is stepping up measures to account for military equipment supplied to Ukraine following Russian allegations, echoed by some Republican lawmakers, that weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine may end up on the black market.

The U.S. has not seen any evidence of such weapons making their way to the black market or being used for anything other than their intended purpose, said the official.

Intense demand for weapons on the battlefield by Ukrainian military and security forces has impeded the proliferation of small arms and infantry weapons on the black market, according to the State Dept.

U.S. officials say the main vector for diversion of weapons to the black market has been pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.

Russia might also use captured weapons to develop countermeasures, propaganda or for false flag operations, said State.

A new plan unveiled by the State Dept. calls for implementing measures to counter possible proliferation in three phases: fiscal 2023, which began on Oct. 1; fiscal 2024; and beyond fiscal 2024.

It focuses on strengthening the ability of security forces in Ukraine and neighboring countries to account for and safeguard arms and ammunition during transfer, storage and on the battlefield; bolstering border management and security; and building the capacity of security and law enforcement to deter, detect and interdict advanced conventional weapon-trafficking.

European law enforcement arm, Europol, has also expressed concern that the conflict in Ukraine could lead to an increase in arms-trafficking, especially once the fighting ends.