Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of helpful agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned 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 value $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, everything else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the night.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was final 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 flip them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they may earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military models has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their income 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. Not one of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"Now we have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor told CNN.