Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of invaluable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian army 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 is valued at practically $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the things else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up 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 -- will also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact said that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces tons of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply informed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.