A Chechen warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov, has made headlines after claiming that Elon Musk remotely disabled a Tesla Cybertruck that was being used in combat in Ukraine. Kadyrov, a Putin-backed leader, had shared footage of himself driving the EV around in August, and later claimed that the vehicle had been performing well in combat until Musk allegedly hit the kill switch.
Kadyrov claims that the Cybertruck was a gift from Elon Musk, and that it was being used on the front lines in Ukraine. However, Musk has denied having anything to do with gifting the warlord a Cybertruck. Kadyrov has also shared footage of the vehicle being used in combat, with a machine gun mounted on the roof. He has praised the truck’s maneuverability and how well it protected the crew.
Controversy Surrounds the Claims
The claims have sparked controversy, with many questioning the validity of Kadyrov’s story. Musk has been providing vital internet access to Ukrainians through SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, and it is unlikely that he would gift a Cybertruck to a Putin-backed leader. Military experts have also expressed skepticism about the Cybertruck’s abilities on the front lines, pointing out that there are no Tesla outlets on the front lines in Donbas.
What’s Next?
It remains to be seen whether Musk indeed remotely disabled the trucks. Considering the number of complaints from Cybertruck owners about quality issues, one explanation is that the vehicle simply broke down doing something it was never designed for. The controversy surrounding the claims is likely to continue, with many watching to see how the situation unfolds.