Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they’ve 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
However after a journey of more 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 rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of valuable agricultural equipment 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 learned that the equipment was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at practically $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment 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 could not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they will earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native 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. Not one of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply stated. "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've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with non-public farms," the mayor told CNN.