Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the equipment was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact said there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- may 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 said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their income 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor advised CNN.