Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos 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 gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of useful agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as 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 is valued at almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- will also be controlled 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 had been locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But the farmers attempting 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.