Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm autos from Ukraine — to search out they have been remotely disabled
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However after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves had been unable to use any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a growing variety of reports of Russian troops stealing farm tools, grain and even building supplies - beyond widespread looting of residences. However the removal of precious agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an more and more organized operation, one which even uses Russian military transport as a part of the heist.CNN has realized that the tools was faraway from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it's valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are worth $300,000 every.
CNN isn't naming a contact in Melitopol accustomed to the main points of the case for their own security.
The contact stated the method started with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, the whole lot else was eliminated: 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 appeared to be a military truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and some in the evening.
Some of the machinery was taken to a close-by village, however some of it launched into a long overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel may very well be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included mix harvesters -- will also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they may not even turn 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 near Grozny. However the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the protection."
"Even when they promote harvesters for spare elements, they will earn some money," the contact stated.
Other sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces a whole bunch of hundreds of tonnes of crops a yr.
One supply advised CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their income 50% to 50%." However the farmers making an attempt 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 simply taking the grain, the supply mentioned. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of vans 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 non-public farms," the mayor informed CNN.