Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve 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 gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian military 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 nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the method began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every part else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A few of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however some of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment 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 may not even turn them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
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 trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some money," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their income 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. Not one of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting 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 along with non-public farms," the mayor told CNN.