Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of invaluable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the equipment 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 value $300,000 every.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the method began 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 equipment. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the night.
A number of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply told 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 move their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. Not one 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 source mentioned. "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 evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor advised CNN.