Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more 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 growing number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of worthwhile agricultural gear 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 discovered that the equipment was removed 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 just not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment 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 could not even flip them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers trying to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. Not one of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.