Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of invaluable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned that the gear was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact said there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the evening.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may 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 near Grozny. But the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare parts, they will earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole bunch of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks 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 private farms," the mayor told CNN.