Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of invaluable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which 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 is valued at almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the details of the case for their own security.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, everything else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools 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 could not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact stated.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 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. Not one 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 stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of trucks 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 non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.