Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were 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 reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removal of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian navy transport as a part of the heist.CNN has learned that the tools was removed 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 value $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the things else was eliminated: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact said there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the evening.
Among the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools 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 could not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said.
The tools now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But 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 are going to earn some money," the contact said.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of hundreds 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%." However the farmers trying 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.