On Saturday, August 17, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov invited Tesla CEO Elon Musk to visit Russia after appearing in a video driving one of Tesla’s Cybertrucks equipped with machine guns, according to AP news agency.

In a video posted on his Telegram account, leader Kadyrov leisurely drives a stainless steel-clad Cybertruck before standing behind a machine gun loaded with ammunition belts mounted on the truck’s bed.

In an emotional post, Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, a republic within the Russian Federation, described the car as “definitely one of the best cars in the world. I like it very much.”

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov shows off a machine gun mounted on a Cybertruck in a post on his Telegram account on August 17, 2024 (Photo: Ramzan Kadyrov Telegram)

Kadyrov also said he would donate the Cybertruck to Russian troops fighting in the invasion of Ukraine. “They don’t call it a cyber monster for nothing,” Kadyrov said. “I am sure that the vehicle will bring many advantages to the Russian army.”

Kadyrov, who has been sanctioned by the United States for his involvement in human rights abuses, said he received the truck from Musk, although that detail could not be independently verified. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I don’t think the Russian Foreign Ministry will mind if Musk visits Chechnya,” he said. “And of course, we are waiting for [Musk’s] new actions to help us complete the special military operation (in Ukraine).”

“We are looking forward to future products that will help us carry out special military operations,” Kadyrov wrote.

Billionaire Elon Musk has yet to comment on Mr Kadyrov’s claims. Although Tesla vehicles are not officially distributed in Russia, many people can still buy them through intermediaries, with prices starting at around $200,000 for a Cybertruck.