Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to search out they’ve been remotely disabled
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But 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 past few weeks there's been a rising variety of studies of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. However the removal of valuable agricultural gear from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian army transport as a part of the heist.CNN has discovered 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 nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
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 removed: in all 27 items of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact mentioned there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some within the night.
A few of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however some of it embarked on an extended overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are outfitted with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can be managed remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they might not even flip them on, as a result of the harvesters have been locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact said that "plainly the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're attempting to bypass the safety."
"Even when they sell harvesters for spare parts, they may earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy models has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces a whole lot of hundreds of tonnes of crops a year.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing local farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However the farmers trying to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to move their produce.
"Not a single elevator works. Not one of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the supply stated. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We have clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms," the mayor instructed CNN.