Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have 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 rising variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized 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 almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with 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 next few weeks, every part else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks 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 within the morning and a few within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but some of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that 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 mix harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply 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 vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor told CNN.