Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen region in Russia, posted a video showing him driving a Tesla Cybertruck equipped with what appears to be a machine gun mounted on top. Kadyrov claimed he would send the vehicle to the conflict zone in Ukraine through a video that was shared on multiple messaging platforms and TikTok since Saturday.
The military leader praised both the vehicle and the CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, whom he called the "greatest genius of modern times." Impressed by the car, he also invited Musk to visit Chechnya and expressed his enthusiasm for Tesla's future products. "It's no coincidence it's called the ‘Cyberbeast.’ I want to express my sincerest gratitude to Elon Musk! I literally fell in love with this car. Elon, thank you! Come to Grozny, I will welcome you as my most esteemed guest," said Kadyrov, a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin.
Kadyrov went further, mentioning that equipment like those made by Tesla "could help Russia" conclude what he calls the "special military operation," the official term used by the Kremlin to describe its war in Ukraine.
After the video was made public, Musk denied on Monday having gifted the car to the authoritarian leader of Chechnya. "Are you seriously that dumb to think I donated a Cybertruck to a Russian general?" Musk wrote on his platform X.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, insurgents in neighboring Chechnya fought two separatist wars for independence. Russia labeled the uprisings as terrorism and responded by razing Grozny. Russian President Vladimir Putin then appointed Kadyrov, a former warlord known for his brutality and loyalty to him, as the leader.
Details on Kadyrov's Tesla Cybertruck and Its Implications
The following questions and answers provide insights into the recent incident involving Ramzan Kadyrov and the Tesla Cybertruck, as well as its broader implications.
Did Elon Musk gift a Tesla Cybertruck to Ramzan Kadyrov?
No, Elon Musk denied gifting the Cybertruck to Ramzan Kadyrov, questioning the intelligence of anyone who believed he did.
What did Kadyrov say about the Tesla Cybertruck?
Kadyrov praised the Cybertruck and Elon Musk, calling Musk the "greatest genius of modern times," and invited him to visit Grozny as his esteemed guest.
How did Kadyrov propose using the Cybertruck?
Kadyrov suggested that such equipment could help Russia in its "special military operation" in Ukraine.