Chechen Leader’s Weaponized Cybertruck Sparks Controversy: Musk Denies Involvement
Staff Editor Chechen Leader Showcases Cybertruck with Mounted Machine Gun, Sparks Controversy
In a recent video that has garnered widespread attention, Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov was seen driving a Tesla Cybertruck equipped with a machine gun mounted on its truck bed. The footage, shared on social media, shows Kadyrov praising Tesla CEO Elon Musk as “the strongest genius of our time” while demonstrating the vehicle’s capabilities.
The video depicts Kadyrov wearing an ammunition belt around his neck as he operates the machine gun atop the Cybertruck, which he referred to as the “Cyberbeast.” Kadyrov expressed his satisfaction with the vehicle and claimed to feel “invulnerable” while using it.
However, Musk swiftly denied any involvement in donating the Cybertruck to Kadyrov, responding with a controversial remark on the social media platform X. Despite this, Kadyrov insisted that he received the vehicle from Musk and announced plans to deploy it to the “special military operation” zone in Ukraine.
Experts have raised concerns about Kadyrov’s claims regarding the Cybertruck’s durability. Tesla’s marketing assertions about the vehicle’s “bulletproof” stainless steel exoskeleton and “armored” glass have been previously debunked, with demonstrations showing that the materials are easily penetrable and breakable.
The incident has reignited discussions about the potential military applications of civilian vehicles. Kadyrov stated that the Cybertruck would soon be deployed to the battlefield, expressing confidence in its utility for Russian fighters.
In response to media coverage of the event, Musk criticized news outlets on X, accusing them of falsely reporting that Tesla had donated the Cybertruck to Kadyrov. It is worth noting that there have been no confirmed reports of such a donation from Tesla.
The controversy surrounding the Cybertruck’s appearance in Chechnya comes in the wake of an earlier incident this year when Lithuanian customs agents intercepted Cybertrucks being smuggled into Russia. This has led to speculation that Kadyrov may have obtained the vehicle through illicit channels.
As the situation continues to develop, questions remain about the origins of the Cybertruck in Kadyrov’s possession and the potential implications of its use in conflict zones.
