Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of useful agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the tools 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 value $300,000 every.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their 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, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the evening.
Among the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can 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 stated.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the safety."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare elements, they'll earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely 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've got clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.