Biden Approves U.S. Military Contractors’ Deployment to Ukraine

The Biden administration has lifted restrictions on sending American military contractors to Ukraine to support the maintenance and repair of US-supplied weapons systems, including F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems, a source familiar with the plan told CNN.

Under the new policy, approved earlier this month, the Pentagon can now contract American firms to operate within Ukraine for the first time since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Officials hope this will speed up the repair process for military equipment being used by Ukraine’s forces.

It is unclear if President-elect Donald Trump will continue the policy after he takes office in January. Trump has stated his intention to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict “within 24 hours” of returning to power.

A defense official said the Department of Defense is seeking a limited number of contractors to assist Ukraine in maintaining US-provided equipment. These contractors will work far from combat zones, helping Ukrainian forces quickly repair essential equipment to return to the front lines.

The official explained that some systems supplied to Ukraine, especially F-16s and Patriots, need specialized expertise to be maintained effectively. This policy shift is part of a broader strategy by the Biden administration to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities against Russia. The Pentagon plans to post the contracts online soon.

Since the start of the war, Biden has required that Americans, particularly military personnel, stay far from Ukraine’s front lines, both for safety and to avoid giving Russia the impression that the US is actively engaged in combat. Consequently, damaged US equipment has often had to be shipped to neighboring countries like Poland and Romania for repairs, slowing down the process. American troops have supported Ukrainian forces with maintenance and logistics remotely, via video calls and secure phone lines—a setup that has certain limitations as it prevents direct hands-on assistance.

Having experienced US contractors on the ground in Ukraine could allow for quicker repairs to key military systems. One such system expected to need regular upkeep is the F-16 fighter jet, which Ukraine began using earlier this year.

Companies interested in bidding for the contracts will need to create detailed risk mitigation plans to protect their employees, according to officials.

The defense official emphasized that the decision was made after careful risk analysis and collaboration with various government agencies. Each contractor will be responsible for its employees’ safety, and risk mitigation strategies must be included in their proposals.

Officials clarified that this policy change will not lead to a large American contractor presence in Ukraine, unlike in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rather, it is expected that only a few dozen to a couple of hundred contractors will be in Ukraine at any one time.

The defense official added that several American companies already have staff in Ukraine working on contracts for the Ukrainian government, so this new policy will not significantly increase the number of US company employees on the ground.