Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of precious agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the gear was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the method began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, all the things else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact said there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the night.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also 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 were locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they will earn some cash," the contact stated.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to move 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 merely taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor advised CNN.