Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of reviews of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized that the equipment was removed 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 mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the method began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the things else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the night.
A number of the equipment 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, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could 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 controlled 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 said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source 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 have now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor instructed CNN.