Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled

However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.

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 worth $300,000 each.

CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their own safety.

The contact mentioned the process began with the seizure of two combine 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 many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a military truck.

The contact said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the night.

A few of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.

The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact stated.

The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the safety."

"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they will earn some money," the contact said.

Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.

One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.

"Not a single elevator works. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "

So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."

Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.

"We've clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor told CNN.