Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search 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 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 reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the equipment was faraway 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 worth $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the night.
Some of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up 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 may not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 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 said. "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 have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.