More than 300 companies including household names such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, Olivetti and Hyundai have supplied Russia with vital weapons technology, allowing it to prolong its war in Ukraine, and furthering human rights abuses.

New analysis of Ukrainian intelligence data carried out by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre found that of the 310 foreign companies that provided the Russian military with tools, parts and software to manufacture weapons, Germany is home to the greatest number with 84 – more than a quarter of the total. It is followed by Taiwan with 38, USA (30), Italy (23), Switzerland and Japan (21 each).

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine’s database of foreign technology used by Russia shows that 1,104 machine tools have been used in 167 Russian weapons production plants to manufacture missiles, military satellites, aircraft and helicopters, warships, artillery and ammunition.

Ella Skybenko, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s Eastern Europe/Central Asia Senior Researcher and Representative said: “Every company must understand that the technology they supply to Russia today can be used in weapons that kill civilians tomorrow. Strengthened human rights due diligence and strict enforcement of sanctions are essential to cut off Russia’s ability to wage war and commit further human rights abuses.”

Crucially, companies must conduct heightened human rights due diligence in conflict zones, per the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. But only 30 of the 302 companies contacted by BHRRC acknowledged their ongoing responsibility for how their products are used.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is now calling for greater due diligence checks and calls on companies to:

• Identify and monitor high-risk equipment, tools and software.
• Establish and update due diligence procedures to detect sanctions breaches and red-flag risks across global supply chains.
• Use GPS trackers and remote-control systems to monitor equipment end-use and shut down unauthorised uses.
• Conduct on-site inspections to verify proper equipment and software use.
• Investigate and respond to evidence of supply chain breaches, inform authorities, and take action to halt unauthorised supplies.

Notes to editors

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre contacted 302 companies whose equipment is listed in the database asking for comment on their inclusion. Eight companies were uncontactable due to a lack of publicly available information.
Among the top six countries represented in the database, companies headquartered in Japan have been the most responsive, recording a 24 % response rate. Swiss companies gave a 14% response rate, German 11 % ,US companies10 % and Italian 4%. No companies headquartered in Taiwan provided a response.
To see the responses please click here
The full list of companies, their home countries, and the equipment they supplied can be found on the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine database

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is an international NGO that tracks the human rights impacts of companies across the globe.

https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/

Media contact: communications@business-humanrights.org