Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles 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 use any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of valuable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact mentioned the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact stated there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the night.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but some of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they will 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 lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a year.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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 simply taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.