Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of beneficial agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian army 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 is valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, all the things else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare elements, they are going to earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole bunch of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 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. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"Now we have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.