In a striking display of military innovation, Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen warlord and leader of the Chechen Republic, publicized a video showcasing a Tesla Cybertruck equipped with a mounted machine gun. Kadyrov indicated his intention to send this modified vehicle to Russian forces operating on the front lines in Ukraine. In his announcement, he claimed the truck was a gift from Elon Musk, referring to him as “the strongest genius of our time,” a statement that Musk subsequently refuted on the platform X, where he expressed disbelief that anyone would assume he had donated a Cybertruck to a Russian officer.
The video features Kadyrov enthusiastically operating the vehicle in a deserted square in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. He exited the truck to pose with the artillery, adorned with an ammunition belt. Kadyrov conveyed his admiration for the Cybertruck, characterizing it as “invulnerable,” “fast,” “comfortable,” and “maneuverable,” and went on to confirm his intentions to deploy it to the region often referred to by Russian officials as the “special military operation zone” in Ukraine. He assured that the arrival of this vehicle would significantly benefit Russian soldiers. Additionally, Kadyrov expressed his gratitude towards Musk, extending an invitation for him to visit Grozny, where he asserted Musk would receive a warm welcome.
Despite the claims made by Kadyrov, Elon Musk reaffirmed his stance on the matter late on Sunday, denouncing the narrative as yet another fabrication from the mainstream media. Kadyrov’s history is steeped in controversy; since his rise to power after the fall of the Soviet Union, he has been noted for his allegiance to President Vladimir Putin and has faced numerous accusations of severe human rights abuses. The United States State Department imposed sanctions on Kadyrov in 2020, highlighting credible evidence of his involvement in egregious violations of human rights, including torture and extrajudicial killings, a stance mirrored by sanctions from the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The Tesla Cybertruck, first introduced by Musk in 2019 at an event in Los Angeles, was presented to be nearly indestructible, although the unveiling was marred by incidents involving broken windows when subjected to a demonstration with rocks. The vehicle is priced starting at approximately $90,000 in the United States. In contrast to this militaristic adaptation of his product, Musk has also played a supportive role for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia by providing Starlink satellite internet services, which are crucial for military communications. This duality of Musk’s engagement reflects the complexities of technological advancements in contemporary warfare, as highlighted by CNN’s Darya Tarasova in her contributions to the reporting.
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