Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had 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 growing variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removing of beneficial agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, all the pieces else was removed: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed 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 few of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but some of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be managed 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 had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they'll earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their income 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 merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor informed CNN.