Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve 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 tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of invaluable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at almost $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the small print of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, the whole lot else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact stated there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the evening.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however some of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- will also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare elements, they are going to earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian army units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole bunch of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers making an attempt 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are simply 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 vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have now clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.