Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of valuable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of 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 practically $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare components, they'll earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.