The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has taken an unexpected turn with a high-profile accusation from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. In a series of posts on the messaging app Telegram, Kadyrov alleged that Tesla CEO Elon Musk remotely disabled a Cybertruck that had been sent to the Northern Military District as part of the war effort.
Kadyrov claimed that the Cybertruck, which he had previously boasted about on social media, performed well in combat missions before being inexplicably shut down. He described the incident as an act of sabotage by Musk, stating, “Elon Musk did something ugly. He gives expensive gifts from the heart, and then turns them off remotely.” He further detailed that the truck was sent to the Northern Military District and had to be towed after the remote shutdown. In response, Kadyrov announced that he is sending two more Cybertrucks, which he claims are unaffected by the remote shutdown, to the warzone. A video accompanying his post showcased the trucks driving through a forested area with men in military uniforms in the truckbeds and mounted machine guns. Kadyrov concluded his post with a sardonic remark, stating, “You can’t think of a better advertisement for Cybertruck.”
Kadyrov’s accusations sparked immediate reactions from Musk and the media. Musk refuted Kadyrov’s claims on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, stating, “Are you seriously so r
*** that you think I donated a Cybertruck to a Russian general? That’s amazing.” While Musk denied gifting the truck to Kadyrov, he did not address how the Chechen leader might have obtained the Cybertruck featured in the video shared on Telegram. It is worth noting that the Cybertruck is currently only available for sale in the United States.This incident raises questions about the origin of the Cybertruck used by Kadyrov and adds a new twist to the ongoing war in Ukraine. While Kadyrov’s claims remain unsubstantiated, they underscore the potential for technological warfare and the use of high-tech weaponry in modern conflicts. The saga also highlights the growing influence of technology giants in global affairs and the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war.
