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American Weapons on the "Black Market": Why It’s Impossible and How Ukraine Reports to Partners on Security Assistance

The narrative of a corrupt Ukrainian army and the embezzlement of security assistance is a persistent talking point in Russian propaganda. The ultimate goal of such propaganda is clear: to undermine military and economic support for Ukraine by convincing the world that aid is being misused. But what are the facts?
One of the key disinformation claims is that American weapons are being stolen and resold on the "black market." However, this false narrative has been debunked by experts at VoxUkraine.
In a January interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that international assistance to Ukraine primarily comes in the form of weapons, not cash. He also stressed that the Ukrainian government takes a tough stance on any attempts at misuse: "We crack down on violations and will continue to do so," he stated.

The situation is also closely monitored by Ukraine’s Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada on monitoring the receipt and use of international material and technical assistance. This commission has been working closely with government agencies responsible for logistics, accounting, and monitoring of weapons and military equipment, as well as with ambassadors, military attachés, government officials, parliamentarians, inspectors, and international delegations. Their findings confirm that no violations have been detected.
Effective oversight in Ukraine’s defense sector is ensured not only through strict control but also through digitalization. Every piece of military equipment is recorded in multiple tracking systems, making it visible both within Ukraine and to international partners.
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) provides centralized monitoring and analysis of military aid through the information and analytics system "SOTA." The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine updates this system daily with real-time data.
Additionally, Ukrainian forces report the use of international military aid to partner countries through LOGFAS (Logistic Functional Area Services), an integrated software system designed to support NATO’s logistics operations.

Another key tool is "KOROVAI", a specialized software system developed in cooperation with the United States and the United Kingdom. The International Donor Coordination Center (IDCC) oversees this system, ensuring complete transparency. The system tracks each shipment from the moment it leaves the donor country to its final destination within Ukraine’s Logistics Command of the Armed Forces.
At the recipient level, Ukraine also employs SAP, a globally recognized enterprise resource management system used by 28 NATO countries. SAP automates supply chain and logistics processes, ensuring accurate accounting of military assets, including weapons, vehicles, and spare parts provided through international assistance. The United States has transferred this system to Ukraine, adapting it to the country’s specific needs.
Since May 2024, SAP has been tracking international military aid from the moment it is announced by partner countries, through its entry into Ukraine via logistics hubs, and its final deployment. To date, over 1,600 deliveries of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment have been processed through the system, with 300,000 individual items recorded, including their serial numbers.
Thanks to the integration of advanced digital tracking systems within the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military aid remains fully transparent and accountable to Ukraine’s international partners. This ensures that every item intended for Ukraine’s defense is received, recorded, and used as intended.