Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of worthwhile agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as a 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's valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their very own safety.
The contact mentioned the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, 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 tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they'll 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 lot of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But 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 showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"Now we have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.