Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal 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 navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the tools 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 value $300,000 every.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the main points of the case for their very own safety.
The contact stated the process started 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 equipment. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the evening.
A number of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they'll earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are offering native 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. Not one of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor told CNN.