Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos 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 make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the equipment was faraway 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 combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two combine 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 many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact said there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the evening.
Some of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be controlled 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 have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they'll earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army items has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However 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 anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely 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 displaying a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor instructed CNN.