August 22, 2024

A Gift from Elon?


A Gift from Elon?
The Tesla Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov claims is a gift from Elon Musk. Kadyrov_95, Telegram.

On August 17, the Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, boasted on Telegram that he had allegedly received a Tesla Cybertruck from Elon Musk, the owner of the car company. Kadyrov also claimed he would use his gift in Russia's war on Ukraine.

In a video published by the Chechen leader, he drives around his luxurious palace in Grozny in a Tesla "Cyberbeast" Cybertruck with a dynamic movie soundtrack playing in the background. Kadyrov added his own flare to his alleged gift, installing a machine gun on the roof of the pickup truck. Later in the video, he poses beside his car while wearing a black cloak, with ammunition rounds hanging around his neck.

In a Telegram statement, Kadyrov said the Tesla Cybertruck would be sent to the Northeast Military District and used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The Chechen leader wrote, "And, of course, we are waiting for your new developments that will contribute to the completion of [the War in Ukraine]."

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Musk aided the Ukrainian defense by providing services from his satellite internet company, Starlink, that helped restore communications on the battlefield. However, as the war prolonged, the tech billionaire changed his tune. Musk now advocates ending U.S. aid to Ukraine, saying "there is no way in hell" Russia can lose the war. In 2024, it was revealed that Russian forces were also using Starlink.

The Chechen leader extended an invitation for Musk to visit Chechnya. Musk has not addressed Kadyrov's gift or invite.

You Might Also Like

Putinites for Putin
  • August 25, 2024

Putinites for Putin

The village of Putino always turns out to vote for Putin. But now even this town has started to call for an end to war.
A QR Crackdown
  • December 14, 2023

A QR Crackdown

Moscow bans QR codes on billboards in response to the Russian political opposition.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955