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 greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of useful agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses 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 almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a military truck.
The contact stated there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the evening.
Among the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip 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. However the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told 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 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 merely taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vans 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 non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.