Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of beneficial agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized 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 nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the method started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- may also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they may earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces tons of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply informed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." But the farmers attempting 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.