Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
Warning: Undefined variable $post_id in /home/webpages/lima-city/booktips/wordpress_de-2022-03-17-33f52d/wp-content/themes/fast-press/single.php on line 26
But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to use any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian navy transport as a 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 is valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, everything else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a year.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But 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 wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.