Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov-thought to be, for good reason, "Putin's foot soldier"-gave the world a shake on his latest claim: that Elon Musk somehow hacked his Tesla Cybertruck remotely, where he claimed to have sent to the front lines to fight against Ukraine.
It's certainly an odd statement from him, especially after earlier statements from him boasting on social media about a new Cybertruck-much this time with a machine gun-but very defiantly gloating over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
If you had played Twisted Metal before, you would have already known that this weaponized pickup truck could pass as an official vehicle for a character in this game.
How Did Kadyrov Get a Cybertruck?
The report itself was controversial the moment it was published for several reasons. It is not clear how he got a Tesla Cybertruck, given the severe sanctions against Russia and Kadyrov personally.
Such a high-tech device should have been blocked from being obtained by sanctions. However, Kadyrov has ruled the Chechen Republic for over a decade, and it seems that nothing is too big for him. Not even international sanctions are pretty in his way.
According to CNN's report last month, Kadyrov also claimed that the Cybertruck was a gift from none other than Elon Musk himself—an accusation that the billionaire quickly rejected.
The idea of this business tycoon giving one of the most high-tech vehicles to the infamous Kadyrov created a buzz on social media, and Musk was swift in rejecting the accusation.
Read Also: [WATCH] Tesla Cybertruck Owner Breaks Finger After Sticking it in the Closing Trunk
Why Cybertruck Was Sent to Ukraine?
About two weeks later, Kadyrov restated his fabricated report. He claimed that the Cybertruck had been sent to the war front in Ukraine.
According to him, Tesla's cybertruck served on the frontline of the war with Russia. However, this last twist to the saga happened when Kadyrov reported on Telegram that Musk had remotely disabled the Cybertruck, an action meant to shut it down from thousands of miles away.
Kadyrov even repeated the lie that Musk had gifted him the car. Well, the Tesla CEO had already denied it.
Truth or Propaganda?
Of course, everything Kadyrov says is suspect. Media outlets like RT, which most people know because of their propagandistic status, are publishing the story. That is not exactly a stamp of approval. As always, such reports must be taken with a grain of salt, Electrek indicates in its latest report.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov loves his Cybertruck technical so much that he's sent two more to the front lines. But you know who isn't so pleased? Elon Musk. Kadyrov revealed via his Telegram channel that his viral first Cybertechnical – the Cybertruck he had custom fitted with... pic.twitter.com/kyzFN1OIhL
— RT (@RT_com) September 20, 2024
Musk vs. Kadyrov: Who's Telling the Truth?
Whom do we believe here – Elon Musk or a notorious Chechen warlord? In this case, it is very hard to take anyone's word. Kadyrov has been known to tell very outrageous, unsubstantiated lies on occasion, and this was probably another fabrication in a long series.
On the other hand, if one bases a verdict on Musk's capability to make a Tesla immobile, then it is vastly incredulous that he gifted Kadyrov a Tesla, let alone promised to become a political player in the conflict of Ukraine.
Of course, Tesla cars have intrinsic remote capabilities, so the firm can shut them down if needed. That can occur when a car has been used or acquired illegally. Was that what happened here? Perhaps. Or maybe, as some have speculated, the Cybertruck broke down, and Kadyrov devised the story of the remote shutdown to save face.
What Does This Say About the Russian Army?
The curiously shutting Cybertruck aside, this situation raises another question: what does it tell about Russia's military if they're using Cybertrucks for combat? The optics on a high-tech electric pickup truck meant for geeky consumers taking part in a war zone are pretty bizarre, if not hilarious, at full stretch.
This is a wild collection of unverified claims and questionable sources, with internet speculation galore. Whether or not Musk indeed disabled the Cybertruck of Kadyrov remotely, one thing is certain. This tale is doing little to help improve the credibility either of Kadyrov or Russia on the world stage.
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