Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles 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 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 rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of invaluable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, everything else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- may 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 have been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact stated that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." But 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 wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final 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 metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.