Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to find they’ve been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have 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 growing variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of beneficial agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one that even uses Russian army transport as part of the heist.CNN has realized that the equipment was removed 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 combine harvesters alone are value $300,000 every.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol conversant in the small print of the case for their own security.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, everything else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of many flat-bed vans used, and caught on digicam, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a army truck.
The contact said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the evening.
A number of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but some of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, which are geared up with GPS, meant that its travel might 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 might not even turn them on, because the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that "plainly the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they are going to earn some cash," the contact mentioned.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a region that produces lots of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 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. 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 said. "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 now clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms," the mayor advised CNN.