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 were unable to make use of any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of beneficial agricultural gear 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 learned that the equipment was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but some 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 may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source instructed 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video exhibiting a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor told CNN.