Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
Warning: Undefined variable $post_id in /home/webpages/lima-city/booktips/wordpress_de-2022-03-17-33f52d/wp-content/themes/fast-press/single.php on line 26
But 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.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of worthwhile agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.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 is valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the details of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the method 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 many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on 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 travel might 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 managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now seems 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 making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some cash," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their earnings 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 wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor informed CNN.