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 were unable to make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of precious agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian navy 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 mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however some of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers attempting 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "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.
"Now we have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor told CNN.