As Ukrainian cities suffer under the escalating Russian missile and drone attacks, an unsettling truth has emerged: The weapons killing innocent Ukrainians are powered by components sold by European and even U.S. companies. Confirmed across multiple investigations, these Western-made electronics are frequently found in wreckage from Russian attacks.

The Ukrainian National Police document war crimes, and in the wreckage of Russian jets and drones, they’re finding Western-made sensors, microchips, and navigation systems.

Companies whose products powered Russian weapons may find that in the court of global opinion, they’re the next Switzerland.

This is a modern echo of an old disgrace: Switzerland’s wartime profiteering during World War II. While claiming neutrality, Switzerland sold munitions to Nazi Germany. Today, many Western firms appear similar on paper — even as their products power violence in practice.

Ukrainians pay the price

The consequences, then and now, are devastating. Ukrainians bury their loved ones while billions of dollars move through “innocent” supply chains — supply chains that ultimately help lead to the very funerals and heartbreak we see today.

A 2023 study by a Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty investigative unit found more than 2,000 different electronic components — many made by U.S., Japanese, and Taiwanese firms — inside five types of Russian Sukhoi warplanes.

Friends of mine in the Ukrainian National Police confirmed that Western-made parts routinely show up in missiles and surveillance gear recovered after attacks. These items often pass through intermediary nations, such as China, Turkey, and even some EU member states, shielding the original suppliers.

‘Out of our hands’

How do the companies respond when questioned? Most point to legal compliance, third-party distributors, and plausible deniability. “We didn’t know,” they say. “It’s out of our hands.”

But when a buyer in a Russia-aligned country suddenly orders 2,000 units of a component normally purchased in batches of 100, it shouldn’t just raise a red flag — it should sound a blaring siren, a warning no one can miss.

Imagine you’re the CEO of an imaginary company, East Elbonian MicroSystems, a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-frequency guidance chips used in both civilian drones and industrial automation. For five years, you’ve sold 100 units annually to a Turkish buyer.

Suddenly, your Turkish buyer places an order for 2,000 chips. The order comes with an up-front payment and a request for expedited delivery. You have recently read reports that chips identical to yours have been recovered from the wreckage of Russian missiles that struck Ukrainian hospitals and apartment buildings.

You don’t wait. You send a senior compliance officer to Istanbul, unannounced. “We need to see where these chips are going,” the officer says upon arrival at your Turkish buyer’s office. “We’ll need full documentation within 24 hours — sales logs, shipping manifests, end-user agreements.”

If your Turkish buyer can’t provide a legitimate explanation for the spike in orders, you terminate the relationship immediately. No more shipments. No more plausible deniability.

Legacies of shame

This is not radical. It’s standard practice in sectors like pharmaceuticals and banking. Robust end-use documentation, site visits, and statistical audits are basic components of ethical commerce. So why not in defense-adjacent tech?

The answer is as old as Switzerland’s wartime banks: profit. Tragically, the cost of not taking action is measured in shattered lives. It means more orphans growing up without parents, more widows mourning at fresh graves, more families torn apart by midnight missile strikes.

It means children losing limbs to drone shrapnel, hospitals overwhelmed with burn victims, and schools reduced to rubble. Each shipment of unchecked components contributes to a growing ledger of human suffering — paid for in blood, grief, and futures stolen before they begin.

Photo by Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

In the U.S., politicians from both sides of the aisle ideally would write laws mandating that all firms producing dual-use components publish regular audits and require reporting on statistically unusual purchases.

Companies would have incentives to comply. History offers a powerful cautionary tale. After World War II, Switzerland faced global outrage for war profiteering. In 1998, the complicit banks agreed to a $1.25 billion settlement. The reputational damage led to public boycotts and a tainted legacy that persists to this day.

Come clean now, or face justice

Legal consequences loom for any U.S. company complicit in war profiteering. Ukrainian investigators, particularly in the National Police, are meticulously cataloging dual-use components from other countries.

When the war ends, expect publicity and accountability to follow. Companies whose products powered Russian weapons may find that in the court of global opinion, they’re the next Switzerland.

Companies that pretend not to know where their components end up still have time to redeem themselves. But that time is running out. Remember — journalists like me may be eager to tell the world exactly what you knew and when you knew it.

Does THIS statistic make you think differently about our involvement in the Ukraine-Russia war?

The United States’ involvement in the war between Ukraine and Russia is a contentious topic among conservatives. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, however, it’s important to know what’s actually happening, especially when it comes to how American taxpayer dollars are being spent.

Dave Rubin plays the clip of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Fox News’ Laura Ingraham discussing exactly where much of our hard-earned money is going.

“We are funding one third of Ukraine's government; that includes teacher salaries, janitor salaries — everybody, not just the military — everybody's salaries are funded by the U.S. taxpayers as the people in our country are deciding between food or medicine right now,” Ingraham said.

“You're exactly right; we've got to focus on our own problems, Laura,” Vance said, adding that “people in Ohio can't afford food; young people can't afford to buy homes [because] we're paying for their government.”

“How about we deal with some of our problems here ... problems related to prices of food and things of that nature?” says Dave in agreement.

Want more from Dave Rubin?

To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

FACT-CHECK: Ukrainian Flag on US Warship? | 10/12/23

Government Shutdown Won’t Stop Ukraine Funding | 9/22/23

Glenn Beck’s powerful message about a potential draft

Glenn Beck wears many hats. He’s a radio host, a political commentator, a television producer, an entrepreneur, an author, and the CEO, founder, and owner of Mercury Radio Arts.

But he’s also a dad.

And it’s that precious role that has him worried about what President Biden did yesterday in regard to Operation Atlantic Resolve.

On July 13, Biden authorized 3,000 reserve troops to be called up by the military, even though tens of thousands were already sent overseas last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“My first thought,” Glenn says, “was that my son is of draft age, and my son is not going to fight in a war that I don’t even know what we’re fighting for.”

“I want somebody to stand up and say no – no, we are not going to go into World War III,” he continues.

2024 presidential candidate Tim Scott agrees: “Sending any of my family members or your family members to a foreign land for a purse that we cannot identify is just an impossibility for me.”

Watch the full clip here.

Want more from Glenn Beck?

To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Where the Ukraine Money Is Actually Going | 4/17/23

Don’t Worry, Zelenskyy. You’re Getting MORE Money! | 2/20/23

How Biden’s Russia Sanctions FAILED as a Deterrent | @Pat Gray Unleashed

Iran nuclear deal talks put on 'pause' after Russia demands sanctions exemption

Negotiations on a revived Iran nuclear deal were put on "pause" Friday after Russia made several new demands and raised objections to the economic sanctions enacted as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine.

European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell Fontelles announced the delayed talks in a tweet, writing, "A pause in #ViennaTalks is needed, due to external factors." He added that the final text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran's nuclear program is "essentially ready and on the table," pending resumed talks. Since assuming power, President Joe Biden's administration has worked with European partners, including Russia, and Iran to hammer out the details of a new arrangement after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal reached by the Obama administration.

As part of the new deal, the U.S. would end the harsh sanctions Trump imposed on Iran and in return Iran would scale back its nuclear program.

A pause in #ViennaTalks is needed, due to external factors. \n\nA final text is essentially ready and on the table.\n\nAs coordinator, I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all #JCPOA participants and the U.S. to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@Josep Borrell Fontelles) 1646994651

According to the Washington Post, the negotiations were halted after Russia issued a series of demands Saturday for its trade deals with Iran to be exempted from U.S. sanctions. Russia says these exemptions must be included as a condition for participating in any revived nuclear deal.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov cited the "avalanche of aggressive sanctions [on Russia] that the west has started spewing out," and said, "This meant Moscow had to ask the US for guarantees first, requiring a clear answer that the new sanctions will not affect its rights under the nuclear deal.

“We requested that our US colleagues ... give us written guarantees at the minimum level of the secretary of state that the current [sanctions] process launched by the US will not in any way harm our right to free, fully fledged trade and economic and investment cooperation and military-technical cooperation with Iran,” he said, according to the Guardian.

Western officials have accused Russia of essentially taking the Iran nuclear deal hostage while the country continues its unjust war in Ukraine. Some are worried that Russia's late objections will prevent talks from resuming, which could kill the deal.

“It’s certainly serious. If you lose momentum at this late stage the dynamics shift in ways that it could become impossible to resume the talks,” said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj of the European Council on Foreign Relations," according to the Washington Post.

Republicans have lambasted President Biden for negotiating with Russia on the Iran deal while simultaneously insisting that Russia become an international "pariah" for continuing the invasion of Ukraine. At a press conference Wednesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said the Iran deal would be "a massive win for Vladimir Putin" if it includes "a carveout" for Russia to trade with Iran without threat of sanctions. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) called on Biden to walk away from the negotiations, and other GOP senators joined in with severe rebukes of the president.

Diplomats that spoke to the Washington Post said that informal talks are expected to continue and considerations will be made as to whether a final deal can be achieved without Russia. But Tehran has said it will not risk deteriorating relations with Russia by ignoring Moscow's concerns, making any deal difficult to achieve.

World wakes up to all-out war: Ukraine says more than 40 soldiers, 10 civilians killed during ongoing invasion; Putin issues ominous threats to West as Ukraine declares martial law

All-out war is unfolding across Ukraine as Russian forces have invaded the neighboring country.

What are the details?

Ukraine officials say that more than 40 soldiers and up to 10 civilians have been killed thus far in the early hours of the Russian invasion as explosions have rocked cities across Ukraine.

In response to the violent attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared martial law.

Residents have taken to the highways in an attempt to to flee Ukrainian capital Kyiv, while others have taken to subway stations as fortified, improvised bunkers.

Ukraine Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, noting that Russia is on a "path of evil," comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack to that of Adolf Hitler.

In Thursday remarks, Zelenskyy called for "everyone who is able" to join the military and called on veterans to help.

Putin took to the airwaves early Thursday morning and issued disturbing threats while detailing the invasion — which he referred to as a "special military operation."

In a series of implausible remarks, he claimed that two "people's republics" — Ukrainian regions of Donbas — of Donetsk and Luhansk "turned to Russian with a request for help."

In response, Putin said, he vowed to "demilitarize" and "deNazify" Ukraine, which he claimed had been subjected to genocide.

"Our actions are self-defense against threats," he falsely claimed. "We do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone. ... NATO supports Ukrainian neo-Nazis ... our actions are self-defense against threats."

He concluded, "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I have been heard."

You can read more on the background here.

What else?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed to hand down the "harshest ever sanctions" against Russian in response to the "barbaric attack," threatening to "weaken Russia's economic base" as well as its "capacity to modernize."

"We will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets,” Von der Leyen told reporters during the early hours of Thursday morning. “We condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments that are being used to justify it.”

She added, “These sanctions are designed to take a heavy toll on the Kremlin's interests and their ability to finance war. And we know that millions of Russians do not want war. We will not allow President [Vladimir] Putin to replace the rule of law, by the rule of force, and ruthlessness. Ukraine will prevail."

NATO member states Estonia, Latvia, Lithiuania, and Poland have all triggered NATO Article 4, CNN reported, to "launch consultations within the alliance over Russia's attack on Ukraine."

“The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened,” Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty states. While Ukraine is not a member of NATO, previous invocations of NATO Article 4 have resulted in a NATO response to include military aid and more.

Later Thursday morning, CNN reported that NATO is set to "increase land, sea, and air forces on its eastern flank" amid the attack.

In a statement, the security alliance said, "Russia’s actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the security and defense of all Allies."

“We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets," the statement continued. "We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies."

“Today, we have held consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty," the statement concluded. "We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all Allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance. Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory."

President Joe Biden on Wednesday night condemned the attack.

"The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," Biden said in a statement on the invasion. "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way."

From Silicon Valley to Moscow, a supply chain of death