The ongoing war in Ukraine has taken a high-tech twist as images of Tesla Cybertrucks, equipped with machine gun turrets, have emerged from the frontlines. The futuristic vehicles, developed by Elon Musk’s Tesla, were reportedly deployed by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kadyrov, known for his controversial and brutal methods, has claimed ownership of two Cybertrucks, which have been modified for combat. In a war of words with Musk, Kadyrov accused the billionaire CEO of disabling the trucks remotely, though the warlord insists the vehicles continue to perform well in battle.
“Western equipment is doing an excellent job against their own Western Ukro-NATOvites,” Kadyrov remarked, using derogatory terms for Ukrainian and NATO forces. He praised the Cybertrucks for their “mobility, convenience, and maneuverability,” claiming the vehicles have not been affected by any remote shutdown attempts. “They are running smoothly and without fail,” he said, calling the trucks an “excellent advertisement” for Musk’s electric vehicles in a war zone.
The public spat between Kadyrov and Musk has drawn international attention, with Kadyrov accusing Musk of giving gifts “from the heart” only to disable them later. Despite Kadyrov’s close alliance with Putin, he has been openly critical of Russia’s military performance in Ukraine, even sending his teenage sons to the frontlines in 2022 as a show of loyalty.
Amid the fighting, Kadyrov’s own health has come under scrutiny, with reports from independent Russian media suggesting that he is suffering from pancreatic necrosis. These reports have fueled speculation about his potential successor in Chechnya. Kadyrov, however, dismissed such rumors by posting videos of himself lifting weights in the gym, seeking to prove his vitality.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve, the deployment of cutting-edge technology like Musk’s Cybertrucks demonstrates the increasing complexity of modern warfare and the surprising intersection of global tech and geopolitics.
