Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been 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 number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of valuable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the tools 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 combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the small print of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a military truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last 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 turn them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some cash," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers trying 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing 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 told CNN.