Notice Contents
Ukraine-related activities of the Department of State (Department) are an oversight priority for the Office of Inspector General (OIG). OIG’s objective for this audit is to determine whether Department efforts to coordinate and advance energy security and diversification initiatives in the Black Sea region have achieved desired results.
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Prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia was the single largest oil and gas supplier to the European Union (EU). However, due to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European countries embargoed Russian oil and prohibited the purchase, importation, or transfer of crude oil and refined petroleum products from Russia. As a result, the price of fuel in the region increased dramatically, which also led to concerns about the security of the region’s energy supply. According to the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR), the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), and the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (EUR/ACE), the Department provided approximately $79.9 million in energy assistance to the Black Sea region during fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024.
OIG will determine to what extent and in what manner the Department has developed, coordinated, and implemented programs that strengthen the Black Sea region’s energy security and resilience through support for energy diversification. OIG will also determine to what extent and in what manner the Department’s energy security and diversification programs in the Black Sea region have achieved desired results. As a product of this audit, OIG aims to provide insight into whether related assistance is reaching intended beneficiaries and realizing identified outcomes.
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OIG has other ongoing projects related to Ukraine and an expansive body of completed work. Visit OIG’s Ukraine Response Oversight page to follow our work in this area and contact us at [email protected] for additional information.