Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search 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 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 constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned 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 nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the details of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however some of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a year.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers attempting to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver 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 said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor told CNN.