Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of useful agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the details of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the night.
A number of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they are going to earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.