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 were unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of stories of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of precious agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned that the equipment was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it is valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, all the things else was removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vans used, and caught on camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the evening.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools 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 may not even flip them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact mentioned.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact mentioned that "evidently the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare parts, they'll earn some cash," the contact stated.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy items has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole bunch of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." But 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 wherever. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.