Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the tools was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact said the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every little thing 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 gave the impression to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the evening.
A few of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be managed 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 mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But 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 merely taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.