Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to use any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of helpful agricultural equipment 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's valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with 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, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact said there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole bunch of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting 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 wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.