Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been 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 growing number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of priceless agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian army transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the tools was faraway 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 mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the 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 mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- will also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they will earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But the farmers trying to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to move their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor told CNN.