Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had 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 stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the tools was faraway 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 small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, all the things else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the evening.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but some of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they'll earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy models has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." But the farmers attempting 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 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 clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.