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Ukraine - Non-Lethal Military Assistance

Since the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014, the United States had provided Kiev with non-lethal military assistance. Ukrainian media revealed the age of Humvee vehicles that the US government sent to Ukraine within the framework of non-lethal military aid. A batch of 100 Highly-Mobile Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), commonly referred as Humvees, delivered from the United States to Ukraine's Lviv Region, were manufactured between 1986 and 1995. The total customs value of 100 US Humvees was a mere 967,000 hryvnias (around $42,000), the Ukrainian source revealed.

Ukrainian servicemen discovered a list of problems when they started using the US Humvees. For example, due to the age of the vehicles their tires began to crack and it turned out that spare tires can't be found in Ukraine. The same thing could be said about other spare parts for the old vehicles, the Ukrainian vehicle consulting firm autoconsulting.com.ua.

Ukrainian servicemen took part in a welcome ceremony for first plane from United State with non-lethal aid including ten Humvee vehicles to Ukraine at Borispol airport near Kiev, March 25, 2015. Furthermore, to provide their Ukrainian colleagues with the "high-level" of protection on the battlefield, some of the US government sent Humvees have canvas-made doors, autoconsulting.com.ua said. The Humvees were delivered to Ukraine as part of Washington's non-lethal aid package, although each vehicle has a pre-mounted machine gun turret attached on top of it. However, since the old Humvees lack protection they would likely be dangerous for soldiers sitting in them.

Another problem with the Ukrainian Humvees is their tires. They are old and crumble, very likely because they have spent a lot of time at some military facility. The tires are also hard to find in Ukraine, and are pricey. At $1,000 per tire, the price tag is leaving Humvees stranded.

The Washington Post reported in 30 November 2015 that a Ukrainian special forces unit near the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk was using US-supplied Humvees dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s, based on serial numbers on the vehicles. Three of the Humvees had plastic doors and windows. The Post report also said “the low quality of the gear calls into question the US government’s commitment to a war that is entering its second year,” a stark contrast with allegations that Russia keeps separatists in Ukraine’s east well-equipped.

The Pentagon countered reports of old and dilapidated U.S. equipment being given to Ukrainian fighters in the country’s east. The Pentagon, which had committed more than $265 million in security assistance to Ukraine since the fighting began, said U.S. assistance and equipment has made an “important impact on operational effectiveness.”

“We provide Ukraine with the best possible equipment, taking into account available resources and the urgency with which the items are needed,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis wrote on 04 Decembe 2015. The Humvees referenced in the Post story might also have been part of the military’s standard program for transferring extra equipment where countries can take U.S. hardware “as is”.