Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm automobiles 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 equipment -- as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there's been a growing number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removing of priceless agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized 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 almost $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the small print of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, all the things else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and gave the impression to be a navy truck.
The contact stated there were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some within the evening.
Among the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however some of it launched into an extended overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, that are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel could possibly be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare components, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military models has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a yr.
One source informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering 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 simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "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 have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with personal farms," the mayor informed CNN.