Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the gear -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the elimination of priceless agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has discovered that the tools was faraway 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 price $300,000 each.
CNN shouldn't be naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their very own safety.
The contact said the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, everything else was removed: 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 seemed to be a army truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the night.
A number of the equipment was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- may also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact said that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they may earn some money," the contact mentioned.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a area that produces lots of of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their income 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 will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "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 got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with private farms," the mayor advised CNN.