Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to use any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even building supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removing of worthwhile agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian navy transport as part of the heist.CNN has learned that the gear was faraway 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 worth $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the main points of the case for their own safety.
The contact mentioned the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of many 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 said there have been rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the evening.
Some of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on a protracted overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- can be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, because the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact stated.
The gear now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. But the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian army models has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces tons of of hundreds of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One supply informed CNN that "the occupiers are offering native farmers to share their profits 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. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We now have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor told CNN.