Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative or USAI is a U.S. Department of Defense-led funding program to increase Ukraine's capacity to defend itself more effectively against Russian aggression through the further training of its Armed Forces, equipment, and advisory initiatives.[1]

Overview

Included in USAI packages were training, equipment, and advising activities, in order to improve Ukraine's defensive capabilities, such as marine domain awareness, operational safety, and capacity of Ukrainian Air Force facilities, as well as its lethality, command, control, and survivability. To counter Russian cyberattacks and misinformation, USAI also supports cyber defense and strategic communications.[2]

The USAI, in collaboration with the United States Department of State, supports a wide range of security assistance activities, including, but not limited to, intelligence support, personnel training, equipment and logistics support, supplies, and other services.[3]

Security Assistance Group Ukraine (SAGU)

In 2022, SAGU was formed as a point of contact. By 21 July 2022, the EUCOM Control Center-Ukraine/International Donor Coordination Centre (ECCU/IDCC) a joint cell formed in March 2022 had trained 1,500 Ukrainian Armed Forces members on coalition-donated equipment.[4] By 4 November 2022, the equipment shipments, and training measures of the Ukraine Contact Group had become repeatable enough to systematize in a Security Assistance Group Ukraine (SAGU), based in Wiesbaden, Germany.[5][6][7][8] This long-term assistance command[9] was initially staffed on an emergency basis by XVIII Airborne Corps commander Christopher T. Donohue. SAGU's commander Lieutenant General Antonio Aguto (USA) was approved by the Senate on 22 December 2022.[10]

By January 2023 500 Ukrainian soldiers per month were being trained.[11]

Funding

The $3 billion dispersed through the initiative in August 2022 can be used to purchase equipment, arms, and ammunition directly from U.S. defense contractors.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) Archives". U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  2. ^ Welt, Cory (March 28, 2022). "U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine". Congressional Research Service. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 President's Budget: Direct War and Enduring Cost Appendix" (PDF). Defense Security Cooperation Agency. May 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Machi, Vivienne (21 July 2022). "Inside the multinational logistics cell coordinating military aid for Ukraine". Defense News. Stuttgart, Germany.
  5. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Starr, Barbara (29 September 2022). "Pentagon working to form new command to coordinate arming and training Ukraine". CNN.
  6. ^ Ware, Doug G. (4 November 2022). "Pentagon announces another $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, establishes headquarters in Germany to handle shipments and training". Stars and Stripes. Washington. The department also announced the creation of a new security headquarters in Germany that will handle weapons shipments and personnel training. It will be called the Security Assistance Group Ukraine, or SAGU.
  7. ^ Myers, Meghann (9 November 2022). "Long-term assistance command to oversee training mission with Ukraine".
  8. ^ Cory Welt, Specialist in Russian and European Affairs --CRS (updated 7 Dec 2022) U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine IF12040
  9. ^ Meghann Myers (9 Nov 2022) Long-term assistance command to oversee training mission with Ukraine
  10. ^ General Officer Management Office (22 Dec 2022) Lieutenant General Antonio A. Aguto, Jr. (USA)
  11. ^ LARA SELIGMAN and PAUL MCLEARY (18 Jan 2023) U.S. prepping major military package for Ukraine "Friday's announcement is expected to include Stryker vehicles, but not tanks".
  12. ^ Michael D. Shear; John Ismay (August 24, 2022). "Biden announces a nearly $3 billion package of arms and equipment for Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2022.


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