According to a Ukrainian businessman in the area, Russian troops in the captured city of Melitopol stole all the equipment from a farm equipment store and transported it to Chechnya.
The thieves, however, were unable to utilize any of the equipment after traveling more than 700 miles because everything had been electronically locked.
Beyond rampant looting of households, a growing number of stories have surfaced in recent weeks of Russian forces stealing farm equipment, grain, and even building supplies. However, the theft of significant agricultural equipment from a John Deere outlet in Melitopol indicates that the crime is becoming more coordinated, with Russian military transport being used.
The equipment was taken from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been under Russian occupation since early March, according to CNN. It's worth almost $5 million all total. Each of the combine harvesters is valued at $300,000.For their own safety, CNN is withholding the name of a Melitopol source acquainted with the case's circumstances.Morda Vasyl, a Ukrainian farmer, climbs into a John Deere tractor's cab.
Two combine harvesters, a tractor, and a seeder were seized, according to the source. Everything else was removed during the next two weeks, totaling 27 agricultural machines. One of the flat-bed trucks seen on video had a white "Z" painted on it and appeared to be a military vehicle.According to the source, Russian troops would arrive in two groups: one in the morning and the other in the evening.
Some of the equipment was carried to a nearby settlement, but others were transported overland to Chechnya, more than 700 kilometers distant. Because the apparatus was sophisticated and equipped with GPS, its movements could be tracked. It was most recently traced to the Chechen town of Zakhan Yurt.Combine harvesters were among the equipment carried to Chechnya, and they can be handled remotely as well. "When the invaders arrived in Chechnya with the stolen harvesters, they discovered they couldn't even switch them on since they were remotely locked," the source added.
The machinery currently appears to be stranded near Grozny on a farm. "It appears that the hijackers have discovered Russian consultants who are attempting to evade the protection," the contact stated.
"They'll make money even if they only sell harvesters for spare parts," the source claimed.Other reports in the Melitopol region claim that grain housed in silos has been stolen by Russian military personnel, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of grains each year.
"The occupiers are promising local farmers a 50 percent to 50 percent part of their income," a CNN source said. Farmers trying to work in Russian-controlled areas, on the other hand, are unable to move their crops.
"There isn't a single elevator in the building that is operational. All of the ports are shut down. This grain will not be taken anywhere from the captured territory."
As a result, according to the source, Russian military are simply grabbing foodstuff. "They steal it, transport it to Crimea, and that's all there is to it."
The mayor of Melitopol tweeted a video last week showing a convoy of trucks supposedly filled with grain departing Melitopol.
"They unloaded grain from Melitopol's city elevator, according to our evidence. The elevator was looted, as were private farms "According to CNN, the mayor said
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