Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles 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 have been unable to use any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of beneficial agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian army transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned 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 practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the evening.
A few of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but some of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear 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 turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare components, they'll earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting 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 mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor instructed CNN.