Russian invaders smuggle cars stolen in Ukraine out of Belarus - media
IRYNA BALACHUK - FRIDAY, 8 APRIL 2022, 09:19
Russian soldiers, who after killing Ukrainians also robbed their homes, have started taking stolen cars from Belarus; they are also buying gold using stolen hryvnias.
Source: "Belaruski Haiun" project by Belarusian journalist Anton Motolko on Telegram
According to "Belaruski Haiun": "Observations have shown that the majority of cars stolen from Ukrainians were imported to Belarus - on 4-5 April, just after the withdrawal of the Russian Armed Forces from Ukraine had started. What is more, we know that there were even several trucks bearing Ukrainian "Havrylivski kurchata" trademark logos taken from Ukraine."
Details: The project has previously written more than once that civilian cars without number plates and marked "V" have been spotted on Belarusian roads.
It was noted that while at the beginning of the war it could be said that these were private cars belonging to Russian soldiers, after a couple of weeks it became obvious that there were stolen cars among them.
It is also reported that more and more Ukrainians have started writing to Belaruski Haiun asking them to find their cars, stolen by looting Russian soldiers from the temporarily occupied territories and subsequently taken to Belarus.
Another project Motolko.help has collected photos of cars that may have been taken out of Ukraine. The project gives brands, approximate year of manufacture and colours.
There are many Mitsubishi cars among these. Most of these cars are new - manufactured between 2018 and 2020.
The project also reports that they are aware of instances where looting Russian soldiers tried to sell wads of Ukrainian hryvnias and were buying up jewellery.
Background:
- Russian occupiers have repeatedly told family members in phone conversations that they are looting Ukrainian homes. In every case, the Russians' wives encourage the soldiers to steal "everything and more".
- For example, a Russian invader in a telephone conversation with his wife boasted that he had stolen "cosmetics, branded trainers and quality T-shirts" for her from the Ukrainian home, while the Russian invader's wife asked for a laptop and a tracksuit.
- On 3 April, the Belaruski Haiun project released over 3 hours of CCTV footage from the SDEC delivery office in Mozyr, Belarus, close to the state border with Ukraine. The video clearly shows the faces and some chevrons on the sleeves of the invaders. The invaders brazenly arranged the delivery of property looted from Ukrainians back to their homes.
- On 4 April, opposition journalists from Belarus managed to obtain the phone numbers, military units and cities of residence of the Russian invaders who were arranging the delivery of looted Ukrainian property in Mozyr.
- According to Oleksandr Markushyn, the mayor of Irpin, which has been liberated from the invaders, the Russians were taking everything from washing machines to underwear out of the city.
