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 more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the tools -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing materials - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the gear was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: 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 military truck.
The contact said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
A few of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however some of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "it appears that evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply instructed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However 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 wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source said. "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 private farms," the mayor informed CNN.