Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they have 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 equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of useful agricultural tools 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 realized that the tools was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the details of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the method started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, everything else was eliminated: in all 27 items 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 were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the night.
Among the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can 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 tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare components, they will earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole bunch of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
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 exhibiting a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.