Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of invaluable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned 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 worth $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every part else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the evening.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped 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 also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some cash," the contact stated.
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 12 months.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely 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 displaying a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor advised CNN.