Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more 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 growing variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of useful 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 realized 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 practically $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces 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 military truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.
Some of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply advised 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 move their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor told CNN.