Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles 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 tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of worthwhile agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the gear was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to 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 subsequent few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many 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 have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the evening.
Among the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are equipped 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 combine harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they may earn some money," the contact said.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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 anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans 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.