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 more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removing of invaluable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the gear 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 value $300,000 every.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the main points of the case for their own security.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the night.
Some of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix 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, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But the farmers trying 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 anywhere. "
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 exhibiting a convoy of trucks 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 private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.