Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
Warning: Undefined variable $post_id in /home/webpages/lima-city/booktips/wordpress_de-2022-03-17-33f52d/wp-content/themes/fast-press/single.php on line 26
But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to use any of the tools -- because 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 materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of invaluable agricultural tools 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 equipment 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 price $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. 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 mentioned there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the evening.
A few of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, but a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped 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 combine harvesters -- can also be controlled 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 said.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 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. Not one of the ports are working. You'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"Now we have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor informed CNN.