Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater 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 growing variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of helpful agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian navy 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 almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the method began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items 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 groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the night.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be controlled 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 mentioned.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply 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 vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.