Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of worthwhile agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the gear was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact said there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they will earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to move their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"Now we have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.