Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to search 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 were unable to use any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of valuable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 price $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the details of the case for their very 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, every part else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many 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 stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the night.
A number of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact said.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare elements, they are going to earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 anyplace. "
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 trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.