Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even makes use of Russian military transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the gear was removed 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 combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN will not be naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every little thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.
Among the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey might be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix 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, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. However the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare components, they'll earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But 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 merely taking the grain, the supply said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.