Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the equipment was faraway 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 every.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact said there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but some of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also 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 were locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"Now we have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with non-public farms," the mayor instructed CNN.