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Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region, has published a video of himself driving a Tesla Cybertruck with what looked like a machine gun mounted on top, saying he would send it to the Ukraine conflict zone.
Kadyrov, known for extravagant publicity stunts, heaped praise on both the vehicle and Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, on the Telegram messaging app, calling him the “strongest genius of modern times” and inviting him to Chechnya.
“We… await your future products that will help us finish the special military operation,” Kadyrov wrote, using the official term by which Russia describes its war in Ukraine. The phrase is abbreviated as SWO in Russian.
“Based on such excellent characteristics, the cyber truck will soon be sent to the SWO area, where it will be reclaimed in the appropriate conditions. I am sure this “beast” will be of great use to our fighters.”
Mr Kadyrov went on to invite Mr Musk to Russia, writing: “I literally fell in love with this car. Elon, thank you! Come to Grozny, I’ll receive you as my dearest guest! I don’t think our Russian Foreign Ministry would object to such a trip.
“And, of course, we are waiting for your new developments that will contribute to the completion of the SWO.”