Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they’ve 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 equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of valuable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized that the tools 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 worth $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the details of the case for their own security.
The contact stated 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 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a military truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some cash," the contact stated.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last 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 city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.