In an unexpected twist reminiscent of a far-fetched movie plot, Tesla CEO Elon Musk found himself in a peculiar position this past Sunday, having to publicly refute a rumor that he gifted a Cybertruck to Ramzan Kadyrov, the controversial Chechen leader often dubbed a warlord. With a touch of disbelief, Musk took to his platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, to dismiss the wild speculation, saying, “Are you seriously so retarded that you think I donated a Cybertruck to a Russian general?” He went on to criticize the mainstream media, exclaiming, “Yet another example of how much the legacy media lies.”
The stir began when Kadyrov, in a flamboyant display of allegiance to power, posted a video showcasing himself behind the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck, albeit one that sported an ominous mounted machine gun — a grim accessory that starkly contrasted the vehicle’s sleek design. In a moment dripping with admiration, Kadyrov proclaimed the Cybertruck as “undoubtedly one of the best cars in the world,” stating that he had “literally fallen in love” with the electric pickup, in a translation reported by The Associated Press. His passionate endorsement might not be unfounded; last month, the Cybertruck triumphed as the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. priced over $100,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Kadyrov, a steadfast ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has long established himself as both a fearsome ruler and a key supporter of the Russian military, especially in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Following the death of the Wagner paramilitary group’s chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Kadyrov stepped forward, eagerly declaring himself as Putin’s “foot soldier,” expressing a willingness to die for the cause.
In his fervent support for Russia’s military endeavors, Kadyrov announced his intention to donate the Cybertruck to aid the war effort, stating with a glimmer of pride, “It’s not for nothing that they call this a Cyberbeast… I’m sure that this beast will bring plenty of benefits to our troops.” His bravado is as notorious as his reputation; Kadyrov has faced U.S. sanctions for years, owing to serious human rights violations linked to his regime, including chilling allegations of extrajudicial killings and torture.
In the video, Kadyrov extended a warm yet ironic invitation, saying, “Elon, thank you! Come to Grozny, I will receive you as my most dear guest!” He added, “And, of course, we’re waiting for your new developments that will help us finish our special military operation” in Ukraine. Whether referring to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet terminals that have inadvertently found their way to the front lines, Kadyrov’s statements echoed an unsettling blend of camaraderie and conflict—energies both thrilling and dire.
