Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they’ve 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 gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of valuable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "it appears 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 components, they will earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army models has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 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. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source said. "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 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.