Ramzan Kadyrov says Cybertruck shall be given to Russian forces preventing within the conflict in Ukraine.
The chief of Russia’s Chechen Republic has heaped reward on Tesla CEO Elon Musk and invited the billionaire to go to his area after posting a video of himself driving a gun-mounted Cybertruck.
In a video posted on his Telegram channel on Saturday, Ramzan Kadyrov may very well be seen taking a Cybertruck on a drive within the regional capital Grozny earlier than standing astride a machinegun mounted on the automobile’s roof.
“I specific my honest gratitude to Elon Musk. That is, in fact, the strongest genius of our time and a specialist. An amazing man,” Kadyrov mentioned in a put up accompanying the video.
Kadyrov invited Musk to Grozny, saying he can be acquired as “my most pricey visitor”.
“I don’t assume the Russian Overseas Ministry would thoughts such a visit,” he mentioned.
Kadyrov, a vocal ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, additionally mentioned he would donate the automobile to Russian forces waging conflict in opposition to Ukraine.
“It’s not for nothing that they name this a cyberbeast”, Kadyrov mentioned, describing the automobile as “undoubtedly the most effective automobiles on the earth.
“I’m certain that this beast will carry loads of advantages to our troops.”
Kadyrov, who has been sanctioned by the US for alleged human rights abuses together with torture and extrajudicial killings, mentioned he had acquired the truck from Musk.
Al Jazeera couldn’t independently affirm Kadyrov’s clarification for a way he obtained the automobile.
Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Tesla first launched the Cybertruck as an idea automobile in 2019 earlier than placing it on sale final yr.
Whereas the automobile is presently solely on sale in North America, Musk instructed an buyers’ occasion earlier this yr that it may very well be licensed for different markets someday in 2025.