On August 17, President of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov boasted on Telegram that he had allegedly received a Tesla Cybertruck from Elon Musk, the owner of the auto company. Kadyrov also claimed that he would use his gift in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In a video released by the Chechen leader, he drives around his luxurious palace in Grozny in a Tesla Cybertruck “Cyberbeast” while a dynamic movie soundtrack plays in the background. Kadyrov added his own touch to his alleged gift by mounting a machine gun on the roof of the pickup truck. Later in the video, he poses next to his car while wearing a black cloak and hanging ammunition around his neck.
In a Telegram statement, Kadyrov said the Tesla Cybertruck would be sent to the North-Eastern Military District and used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The Chechen leader wrote: “And, of course, we are waiting for your new developments that will help end (the war in Ukraine).”
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Musk supported Ukraine’s defense by providing services from his satellite internet company Starlink, which helped restore communications on the battlefield. However, as the war dragged on, the tech billionaire changed his mind. Musk now advocates an end to U.S. aid to Ukraine, saying there is “no way” Russia could lose the war. In 2024, it was revealed that Russian forces were also using Starlink.
The Chechen president invited Musk to visit Chechnya. Musk did not respond to Kadyrov’s gift or invitation.
