Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of worthwhile agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the tools 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 combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their very own safety.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, the whole lot 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 appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the evening.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy models has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.