Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to use any of the equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which 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's valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN just isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the main points of the case for their own security.
The contact said the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every little thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a army truck.
The contact stated there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the night.
Among the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can also be managed 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 had been locked remotely," the contact said.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some cash," the contact said.
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 lot of 1000's of tonnes of crops a year.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing local 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. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor told CNN.