Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of priceless agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at practically $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, all the things else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the night.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, because the harvesters had been 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 trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers making an attempt 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.