Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of precious agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the equipment 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 worth $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every part else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare elements, they are going to earn some money," the contact said.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." But 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 source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's 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 city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor told CNN.