Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of beneficial agricultural equipment 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 a 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 practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every part else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but some of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some money," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering 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 move their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor informed CNN.