Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of valuable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the gear 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 mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the evening.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- may also 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 were locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they may 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 hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing 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 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 supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor instructed CNN.