Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of beneficial agricultural tools 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 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 price $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print 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, the whole lot else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact stated there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.
Among the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but some of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they'll earn some cash," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None 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 supply stated. "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.
"Now we have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.