Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of valuable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned 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 combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the method began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every part else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- will also be controlled 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 tools now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." But the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None 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 mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.