The head of the Chechen Republic has received a Tesla Cybertruck and has mounted a machine gun to the back, as seen in a video shared over the weekend.
On Saturday, Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video on Telegram of him driving a Tesla Cybertruck with a mounted machine gun on the back. In the post, Kadyrov shared high praise for the vehicle, highlighting its quickness and speed, as well as its general maneuverability and durability.
“We received a Tesla Cybertruck from the respected Elon Musk,” Kadyrov wrote, as translated into English from Russian. “I was pleased to test the new technology and was personally convinced that it is not by chance that it is called the ‘Cyberbeast’. A real invulnerable and fast animal. A maneuverable car that develops excellent speed and overcomes obstacles. A very comfortable car.”
In the past, however, Musk and Tesla have highlighted that they don’t typically “gift” people their electric vehicles (EVs), but rather that everyone must pay full price.
The Chechnya ruler and Vladimir Putin ally also said he plans to send the vehicle to a military zone to the aid of his soldiers, after which point he intends to write back to Musk and Tesla with notes on how the Cybertruck performed as a warzone vehicle. In the past, Kadyrov has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the European Union (EU) over human rights violations.
“Based on such excellent characteristics, the Cybertruck will soon be sent to the North-East Military District zone, where it will be in demand under appropriate conditions. I am sure this ‘beast’ will bring a lot of benefits to our soldiers,” Kadyrov added.
Credit: Ramzan Kadyrov | Telegram
Credit: Ramzan Kadyrov | Telegram
Musk responded to the news on Monday in a post on X:
Are you seriously so retarded that you think I donated a Cybertruck to a Russian general?
That’s amazing 🤣🤣
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 18, 2024
Tesla Cybertruck mods for military use have been popping up in recent months, largely coming from Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT division dedicated to fleet, government, and militarized vehicle mods. UP has developed multiple Cybertruck mods within the realm of policing and military, and one police department in California launched the first Cybertruck outfitted for service last month.
In January, Elon Musk responded to a post on X affirming the fact that he thought the Cybertruck makes a great police vehicle, especially for its steel exterior and overall durability.
Updated 8/19/24: Added Musk’s response to the claims that he gave the Cybertruck to Kadyrov.
Tesla buyers in the U.S. military can get $1,000 off Cybertruck purchases
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