Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been 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 variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of beneficial agricultural equipment 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 equipment 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 combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, every part else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many 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 in the morning and some in the night.
Some of 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 machinery, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they will earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor instructed CNN.