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 more than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the tools -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even constructing supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removing of helpful agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even makes use of Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol aware of the small print of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the process started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was removed: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed trucks used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and seemed to be a military truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and a few in the evening.
A number of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, but a few of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are equipped with GPS, meant that its journey could possibly be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, as a result of the harvesters had been locked remotely," the contact said.
The tools now seems to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they promote harvesters for spare parts, they are going to earn some cash," the contact said.
Other sources in the Melitopol area say theft by Russian military units has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source advised CNN that "the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory wherever. "
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of vans leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor advised CNN.