Russian troops in Melitopol plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine — to seek out they have been remotely disabled
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But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to make use of any of the gear -- because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there's been a rising variety of stories of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies - past widespread looting of residences. But the removing of precious agricultural tools from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one which even uses Russian army transport as 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 is valued at nearly $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 each.
CNN is not naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact stated the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the subsequent few weeks, every thing else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of the 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 were rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few in the evening.
A number of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, however a few of it embarked on a protracted 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 final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The tools ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- will also be controlled 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 were locked remotely," the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact stated that "it seems that the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who're trying to bypass the protection."
"Even if they sell harvesters for spare elements, they'll earn some money," the contact stated.
Different sources within the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military items has prolonged to grain held in silos, in a area that produces hundreds of 1000's of tonnes of crops a 12 months.
One source told CNN that "the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%." But the farmers trying 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'll not take this grain from the occupied territory anyplace. "
So Russian forces are merely taking the grain, the source said. "They steal it, take it to Crimea and that's it."
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
"We've got clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with personal farms," the mayor told CNN.