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

Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
The Moscow Eccentric

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.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

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.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

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.
Russian Rules

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.

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