According to US authorities, a tiny number of American defence contractors are being allowed to work inside Ukraine to maintain and repair Pentagon-provided weaponry. Since Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has been a crucial military backer, spending more over $60 billion in security aid. However, it has not enabled US military contractors to work in Ukraine, fearing that it may be pulled into a direct fight with Russia.

US President Joe Biden made the choice in a significant policy move before leaving office in January, according to US media reports on Friday, ahead of Donald Trump’s November 5 presidential election victory. Biden also intends to send billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine before his term expires. Trump has criticized the extent of the United States’ military and financial backing for Ukraine, and he has promised to end the war with Russia swiftly – without specifying how. For the past two years, US and NATO forces have provided real-time maintenance guidance to Ukrainian personnel via encrypted chatrooms on phones and tablets.

The Pentagon is allowing the contractors to leave because some equipment, such as F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defence systems, requires high-tech expertise to repair. They said that using contractors would ensure that the weapons were repaired swiftly, allowing Ukrainian soldiers to continue using them in combat.

The number of contractors would be minimal and dispersed far from the front lines. The officials indicated they would not engage in direct confrontation. Companies will be accountable for their employees’ safety. The constraints have hampered repairs and made them more difficult as the US has equipped Ukraine with more complex systems, like as F-16s and Patriot systems. Many pieces of equipment are inoperable due to damage. In August, an F-16 airplane crashed while resisting a Russian strike, killing the pilot. The policy change would bring the Pentagon in line with the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development, both of which already have US contractors in Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine warTrump win deepens Ukraine’s pessimismS. Koreans weigh role in UkraineFighting Russia from a distanceWhat does Trump 2.0 mean for US foreign policy?Why are soldiers leaving the ranks?The patrols hunting for conscriptsNews|Russia-Ukraine warPentagon allows US military contractors to fix weapons in UkraineUS eases restrictions for a few contractors to work away from the front lines and says they won’t engage in combat.Russian drone attack in OdesaA resident stands next to destroyed cars and a damaged apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, in Odesa, Ukraine, on November 9, 2024 [Nina Liashonok/Reuters]Published On 9 Nov 20249 Nov 2024The United States is allowing a small number of American defence contractors to work inside Ukraine to maintain and repair Pentagon-provided weaponry, according to US officials.The US has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $60bn in security aid since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. But it has not permitted US military contractors to work in Ukraine, wary that it could be drawn into a direct conflict with Russia.Recommended Storieslist of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Russia ratifies Pyongyang pact as N Korea, Ukraine troops in border clasheslist 2 of 4‘We’re not going to win’: Trump’s election deepens Ukraine’s pessimismlist 3 of 4Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 986list 4 of 4Ukraine’s Zelenskyy urges allies to act before N Korean troops reach frontend of listUS President Joe Biden made the decision in a significant policy shift before he leaves office in January, US media reported on Friday, before the November 5 presidential election, won by Donald Trump.Biden also plans to rush billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine before his term ends. Trump has criticised the scale of US military and financial support for Ukraine and has pledged to end the war with Russia quickly – without saying how.For the past two years, US and allied forces have been providing real-time maintenance advice using phones and tablets to communicate in encrypted chatrooms with Ukrainian forces.AdvertisementOfficials said the Pentagon is allowing the contractors to go because some equipment – including F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defence systems – require high-tech expertise to repair. Using the contractors, they said, will ensure the weapons are fixed quickly so Ukrainian forces can continue to use them in combat.Sign up for Al JazeeraAmericas Coverage NewsletterUS politics, Canada’s multiculturalism, South America’s geopolitical rise—we bring you the stories that matter.E-mail addressSubscribeBy signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policyprotected by reCAPTCHAPlay VideoVideo Duration 1 minutes 57 seconds1:57Now PlayingVideo Duration 01 minutes 57 seconds01:57Putin, Zelenskyy offer duelling congratulations after Trump victoryPutin, Zelenskyy offer duelling congratulations after Trump victoryNextVideo Duration 01 minutes 26 seconds01:26Israeli forces strike Gaza school shelter, killing civilians and journalistsIsraeli forces strike Gaza school shelter, killing civilians and journalistsShow more playlist itemsThe number of contractors would be small and located far from the front lines. They would not be engaged in direct combat, the officials said. The companies will be responsible for the safety of their employees.The restrictions have sometimes slowed down repairs and proven increasingly difficult as the US has provided Ukraine with more complicated systems, such as the F-16s and Patriot systems.A lot of equipment is not being used because it is damaged. In August, an F-16 jet crashed while repelling a Russian attack, killing its pilot.The policy change would move the Pentagon in line with the US Department of State and US Agency for International Development, which already have US contractors in Ukraine.

The decision comes at a critical point in the conflict, as Russia makes more advances into Ukrainian territory. However, given the short time remaining in Biden’s presidency, it is unclear how long the policy shift will last. Donald Trump takes office on January 20. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed his Western partners to allow Ukraine to employ long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia, increasing pressure on Moscow to stop the conflict.