Tesla has remotely switched off the Cybertruck owned by Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, the dictator has claimed.

In a Telegram post, Kadyrov claimed that the vehicle, which he said had been performing effectively as part of the Russian “special military operation” in Ukraine, was suddenly deactivated by Musk. He criticised the decision, stating that the electric truck had been utilised in the invasion due to its impressive manoeuvrability and protective features, including a mounted machine gun, which he said had been crucial for the crew’s safety.

“Musk remotely turned off the Cybertruck. This is not manly,” Kadyrov wrote.  “We had to tow the iron horse. How is that possible, Elon?”

In August, Kadyrov claimed that Musk had personally gifted him a Cybertruck and posted a video on social media of himself driving the vehicle through Grozny. The footage revealed the Cybertruck equipped with a machine gun mounted in the boot, and Kadyrov stated that it would be deployed to the frontlines for combat. He also expressed his admiration for the vehicle, calling it a “cyberbeast” he had “fallen in love with.”

However, Musk publicly refuted Kadyrov's claims, writing on his social media platform X that it was untrue. 

“Are you seriously so retarded that you think I donated a Cybertruck to a Russian general? That's amazing,” he wrote.

The Tesla Cybertruck is a groundbreaking all-electric pickup truck that was unveiled by Elon Musk in November 2019 and began shipping in 2023. Its striking, angular design sets it apart from conventional trucks, giving it a futuristic appearance that resembles a concept vehicle more than a traditional pickup. Although it is officially unavailable in Russia, the Cybertruck has become highly sought after, with imported models reportedly costing over RUB20mn ($217,000).