Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
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But 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 variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian army 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's valued at almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
A few of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it launched into an extended 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 be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also 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 had been locked remotely," the contact said.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they may earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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 anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's 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 informed CNN.