Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to seek out they have 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 equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the main points of the case for their very own security.
The contact said the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact stated there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can also 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 mentioned.
The gear now seems 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 are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they may earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole bunch of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But 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 anyplace. "
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 showing a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor told CNN.