From showroom to warlord How a Tesla Cybertruck made its way from the U.S. to Ramzan Kadyrov’s driveway

From showroom to warlord How a Tesla Cybertruck made its way from the U.S. to Ramzan Kadyrov’s driveway

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, American luxury cars were supposed to be off-limits to sanctioned individuals like Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Western restrictions ban the import of vehicles worth more than $50,000. And yet, in August 2024, Kadyrov appeared in Grozny behind the wheel of a brand-new Tesla Cybertruck — decked out with a mounted machine gun on the roof. Novaya Gazeta Europe traced the truck’s journey fr…

After the outbreak of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, Ramzan Kadyrov, like other persons on the sanctions lists, should have no access to luxury cars: the import of cars worth more than $50,000 is prohibited. But in August 2024, the head of Chechnya appeared in Grozny driving a brand new Tesla Cybertruck electric pickup truck, and even with a machine gun on the roof. Novaya Gazeta Europe traced this car from Tesla's headquarters in …