Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of helpful agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the equipment 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 combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact mentioned the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the evening.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but some of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can 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 stated.
The equipment 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 making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare parts, they will earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native 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 simply taking the grain, the source said. "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've clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor instructed CNN.