FACT CHECK: Post Claims Half Of US Aid To Ukraine Has Been Stolen
A post shared on X claims half of all United States aid to Ukraine has been stolen.
— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) December 16, 2024
Verdict: Misleading
There is no evidence that half of all U.S. aid to Ukraine has been stolen.
Fact Check:
Social media users are claiming that half of U.S. aid to Ukraine has been stolen. One user shared an image that reads, “Polish Official Says Half Of US Aid To Ukraine Was Stolen And Laundered Back To Democrats.”
There is no evidence for this claim. If half of US aid had been stolen, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. The Special Inspector General for Ukraine aid has not stated that half of US aid has been stolen.
The inspector general reported, “As of September 30, 2024, FCIWG agencies reported a total of 61 open investigations and 30 closed investigations.” Furthermore, a November report released by the Special Inspector General states, “there remains no credible evidence of illicit diversion of U.S.-provided defense equipment, direct budget support, or humanitarian assistance from Ukraine.”
The U.S. has authorized over $183 billion in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. This includes support for U.S. military and humanitarian organizations, along with direct material aid and budget support for Ukraine.
The origin of this claim comes from a Russian Today article about Piotr Kulpa, who is described as a former deputy labor minister. He is alleged to have said, “they will also find something else: that a huge portion of the funds was stolen in Ukraine. From 30% to 50%, regardless of the nature of the aid.”
He did not provide any evidence for the claim. PolitiFact also reported, “based on what RT reported, Kulpa did not say half of the funding dedicated to Ukraine aid was rerouted to Democratic political campaigns.” (RELATED: Video Of Elon Musk and Giorgia Meloni Kissing Is AI-Generated)
