Chechen military figure exhibits armed Tesla Cybertruck version
Elon Musk shared a video on Saturday of a vehicle given to him by "the foremost intellectual giant of our age," Ramzan Kadyrov, allegedly.
Later, Musk refuted the claim, stating, "Are you genuinely so intellectually challenged that you believe I gifted a Cybertruck to a Russian military commander?" Musk conveyed this message on his own social media platform, X.
In the video, a cheerful Kadyrov is seen driving the vehicle across an empty square in Grozny, Chechnya's capital. He then exits the vehicle, positioning himself behind a machine gun with an ammunition belt around his neck.
"We received a Tesla Cybertruck from the esteemed Elon Musk. I was thrilled to test the novel equipment and discovered that its nickname, 'Cyberbeast,' is well-deserved," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.
Kadyrov expressed his admiration for the vehicle, stating it was "unbreakable," "fast," "comfortable," and "maneuverable."
"Given these outstanding qualities, the Cybertruck will soon be dispatched to the special military operation zone," he stated, referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with a euphemism. "I am confident that this 'beast' will significantly benefit our troops," he added.
Kadyrov thanked Musk for the vehicle and extended an invitation to Grozny, where he promised Musk would be greeted as "the most cherished guest."
On Sunday evening, Musk once more denied providing Kadyrov with the vehicle, labeling the story as "just another instance of how deceitful the mainstream media can be."
Following the Soviet Union's collapse, insurgents in nearby Chechnya engaged in two separatist wars for independence. Russia classified the uprisings as terrorism and retaliated by destroying Grozny. Putin, the Russian President, subsequently appointed Kadyrov, a former warlord known for his brutality and loyalty to Putin, as leader.
For years, Kadyrov has been criticized for alleged human rights violations. The US State Department sanctioned him in 2020, citing "extensive credible information" suggesting Kadyrov's involvement in "gross human rights violations," such as torture and extrajudicial killings. Kadyrov has also been sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Musk introduced the Tesla Cybertruck, an electric-powered vehicle, in 2019 in Los Angeles. During the unveiling event, Musk requested a Tesla employee to smash the vehicle's windows, which were said to be virtually "unbreakable." Two windows shattered. The Cybertruck is priced around $90,000 in the US.
After Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Musk – who also heads SpaceX – offered Starlink satellite internet service to Kyiv, replacing the systems damaged during the conflict. Starlink has been utilized by Ukraine's military for military operations against Russia.
CNN's Darya Tarasova contributed reporting.
In response to Kadyrov's praise for the Cybertruck, Musk expressed his disbelief about gifting the vehicle to the Chechnya leader, emphasizing the misinformation circulated by mainstream media. Despite this, the Cybertruck's popularity has reached beyond Europe and the world, drawing attention to Tesla's innovative electric vehicles.
