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 had 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 number of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of worthwhile agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the method started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every thing else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the night.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine 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 were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their income 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. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.