Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to use any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of priceless agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized that the gear was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the process began 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 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the evening.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that 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 -- may also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they will earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole bunch of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.