Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of helpful agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized 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 almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the details of the case for their own security.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the evening.
A few of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- will also be managed 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 equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they may earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last 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 together with private farms," the mayor told CNN.