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 greater than 700 miles, the thieves were 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 rising variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of useful agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as 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 almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, all the things else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey 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 be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some money," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." But the farmers attempting to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying 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 private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.