Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of useful agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact said there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be managed 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 stated.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles 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 personal farms," the mayor told CNN.