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 more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of invaluable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized that the equipment was faraway 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 combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned 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 eliminated: 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 army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can 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 were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact said 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 are going to earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are offering local 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'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 displaying a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.