Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of priceless agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the equipment was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the night.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which 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 mix harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact said that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers trying to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You will 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."
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 metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.