Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
Warning: Undefined variable $post_id in /home/webpages/lima-city/booktips/wordpress_de-2022-03-17-33f52d/wp-content/themes/fast-press/single.php on line 26
However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of useful agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as a 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's valued at almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the main points of the case for their very own safety.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every part else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the night.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will 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 have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they may earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole bunch of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver 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 merely taking the grain, the source mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's 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 evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor advised CNN.