Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek 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
But 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 rising number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of precious agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned that the tools was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the main points of the case for their own security.
The contact said the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact said there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- may also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 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 have now clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.