Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of worthwhile agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian army transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized 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 nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the details of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the evening.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare components, they may earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting 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 anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor instructed CNN.