Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve 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 -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing variety of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of helpful agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian army transport as a 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 nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vehicles 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 teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however some of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted 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 mix harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some cash," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing 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. Not one 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 source 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 vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor instructed CNN.