Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater 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 rising variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian military transport as a 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 price $300,000 each.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools 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 may not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact said that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces tons of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 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'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."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.