Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled

However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.

CNN has discovered that the tools 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 worth $300,000 every.

CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the details of the case for their very own safety.

The contact said the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.

The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.

Among the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.

The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be managed 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 stated.

The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."

"Even when they promote harvesters for spare components, they may earn some money," the contact said.

Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.

One supply informed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local 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. Not one 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 is it."

Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.

"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.