How Russia’s seizure of $5M Ukrainian farm equipment backfired

Russia has been accused of carrying out looting in the occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol – not only stealing a collection of Scythian gold but also equipment from a farm dealership.

However, the troops’ plan of using the farm vehicles – which has been estimated to be worth $5 million – has reportedly fired back. According to a Ukrainian businessman in the area, troops seized the vehicles and shipped them to Chechnya. But, after making a journey of more than 700 miles, they realized that they were unable to use any of the equipment as it had been locked remotely, CNN reported.

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Over the past few weeks, Russian troops stole farm equipment, grain and even building materials apart from the alleged looting of residences.

CNN notes that the seizure and transportation of the valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol hints at an increasingly organized operation.

According to sources, the equipment was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which was occupied by Russian forces in early March, just weeks after Moscow launched in invasion on February 24.

A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told CNN, that the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. A total of 27 pieces of farm machinery were removed.

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Some of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, while others traveled 700 miles to Chechnya. However, after the long overland journey, the farm vehicles could not be used as they can also be controlled remotely.

“When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely,” the contact said.

The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact said that “it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection.”

“Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they will earn some money,” the contact said.

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Meanwhile, Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said Sunday that a collection of Scythian gold dating back to IV century BC was stolen by Russian troops.

“The orcs have taken hold of our Scythian gold. This is one of the largest and most expensive collections in Ukraine, and today we don’t know where they took it, whether it was hidden or stolen. We don’t know about its fate, but of course this gold has been stolen from our community, and I hope that we will be able to get it back,” he said.