- "Kadyrow, labeled as Putin's faithful hound," is pictured alongside Tesla's cybertruck, prompting a response from Elon Musk.
Ramzan Kadyrov, often referred to as "Putin's Dog", recently exhibited a Tesla Cybertruck on his Telegram channel, complete with a substantial weapon mounted on its bed. This move seems to have a particular purpose.
Initially, the Chechen leader complimented the electric pickup in his post, stating: "We received a Tesla Cybertruck from the esteemed Elon Musk. I had the pleasure of testing the innovative technology and was convinced that it's not by chance that it's called 'Cyberbeast'. A genuinely unconquerable and swift beast."
Kadyrov Intends to Use the Tesla Cybertruck in Wars
The autocratic ruler, who was promoted to Colonel-General of the Russian Armed Forces by Vladimir Putin in October 2022, continues to laud: "The car is nimble, reaches an impressive speed, and surmounts barriers. A highly functional vehicle. [...] I am certain that this 'beast' will be of significant benefit to our soldiers."
It appears that Kadyrov plans to employ the modified and weaponized Cybertruck in the disputed regions of Ukraine. He supports this declaration with a salute to Elon Musk. "I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Elon Musk! Of course, he is the most brilliant genius of our era and an expert. An exceptional man! [...] Elon, thank you! Pay me a visit in Grozny, I will welcome you as my dearest guest! I don't think our Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would object to such a trip. And of course, we are eagerly awaiting your upcoming inventions that will contribute to the completion of the military special operation."
It remains unclear how Kadyrov secured the Cybertruck. The vehicle should not be in the country due to sanctions against Russia. A direct gift from Tesla would be a clear breach of the law and would put the U.S. company in a precarious situation.
Musk's Unusual Response
As of now, there is no official statement from Elon Musk or Tesla. The magnate reacted in two ways: just a few hours ago, he had the AI "Grok" on X, formerly Twitter, create an image related to the militarized vehicle. He provided the AI with the following command: "Make the weapon much larger. Ramzan Kadyrov drives a Tesla Cybertruck performing wheelies around the Kremlin and looks like Yosemite Sam." He shared the result, accessible only to premium users, with his followers and commented: "There's room for improvement lol".
Previously, he reacted to a post on X accusing him of giving a Cybertruck to Kadyrov. There, he wrote to the authors of the post: "Are you genuinely that ignorant that you believe I gave a Cybertruck to a Russian general? That's surprising." The Tesla CEO further exclaims: "Another instance of how the mainstream media lies."
He did not respond publicly to the invitation, and there is still no explanation for how one of his vehicles ended up in Russia.
It is not unthinkable that Elon Musk will have to justify himself to the U.S. government. So far, Tesla only sells the Cybertruck in the United States – somehow, the vehicle must have traveled from there to the Russian republic of Chechnya. Speculation is rampant about routes via the Emirates.
Ramzan Kadyrov faces international condemnation for severe human rights violations and is sanctioned in numerous countries. He is accused of political opponents' murders and torture. He is regarded as one of Putin's most loyal supporters. The Cybertruck footage on his Telegram channel is accompanied by images of Ukrainian war casualties. He thanks his private army for their "outstanding work".
The President of the European Parliament might express concern over the use of a weaponized Tesla Cybertruck in conflicts, given its intended use by Ramzan Kadyrov in the disputed regions of Ukraine.
Given Elon Musk's denial of providing a Cybertruck to Kadyrov, the President of the European Parliament might also seek clarification from Tesla about how the vehicle ended up in Russia.
