Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more 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 previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of helpful agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the gear was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the method began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the things else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a navy truck.
The contact said there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the night.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel may very well 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 managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor informed CNN.