Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been 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 rising number of studies of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of invaluable agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian army transport as a part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the equipment 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 price $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the main points of the case for their very own safety.
The contact mentioned the process began with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every thing else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few within the evening.
A number of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- may also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are making an attempt to bypass the protection."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare elements, they'll earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole lot of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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 anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely 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've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor instructed CNN.