Initially Printed: 01 MAY 22 12:02 ET By Olexsandr Fylyppov and Tim Lister, CNN
(CNN) — Russian troops within the occupied metropolis of Melitopol have stolen all of the gear from a farm gear dealership — and shipped it to Chechnya, in keeping with a Ukrainian businessman within the space.
However after a journey of greater than 700 miles, the thieves have been unable to make use of any of the gear — as a result of it had been locked remotely.
Over the previous few weeks there’s been a rising variety of experiences of Russian troops stealing farm gear, grain and even constructing supplies – past widespread looting of residences. However the elimination of useful agricultural gear 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 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 practically $5 million. The mix harvesters alone are price $300,000 every.
CNN is just not naming a contact in Melitopol acquainted with the small print of the case for their very own security.
The contact mentioned the method started with the seizure of two mix harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the following few weeks, all the pieces else was eliminated: in all 27 items of farm equipment. One of many flat-bed vehicles used, and caught on digital camera, had a white “Z” painted on it and seemed to be a navy truck.
The contact mentioned there have been rival teams of Russian troops: some would come within the morning and a few within the night.
A number of the equipment was taken to a close-by village, however a few of it launched into a protracted overland journey to Chechnya greater than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the equipment, that are geared up with GPS, meant that its journey may very well be tracked. It was final tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The gear ferried to Chechnya, which included mix 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 mentioned.
The gear now seems to be languishing at a farm close to Grozny. However the contact mentioned that “evidently the hijackers have discovered consultants in Russia who’re making an attempt to bypass the safety.”
“Even when they promote harvesters for spare components, they’ll earn some cash,” the contact mentioned.
Different sources within the Melitopol area say theft by Russian navy 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 instructed CNN that “the occupiers are providing native farmers to share their earnings 50% to 50%.” However the farmers making an attempt to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to maneuver their produce.
“Not a single elevator works. Not one 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 supply mentioned. “They steal it, take it to Crimea and that is it.”
Final week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video displaying a convoy of vehicles leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
“We’ve clear proof that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol metropolis elevator. They robbed the elevator together with non-public farms,” the mayor instructed CNN.
The-CNN-Wire
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