Elon Musk changes Twitter name after taunts from Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov

After responding to taunts from infamous Chechen dictator and suspected war criminal, Ramzan Kadyrov, Elon Musk made a noteworthy change.

In a bizarre move, Elon Musk has changed his name on Twitter from Elon to Elona, after his bid to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin received attention from infamous dictator and Russian ally, Ramzan Kadyrov.

For background, Mr Kaydrov is the Head of the Chechen Republic since 2007 and has been accused of gay hate crimes, as well as kidnapping government officials, journalists and citizens. On Monday it was also reported that Mr Kadyrov and his Chechan forces are assisting Russian military near Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv.

Ramzan Kadyrov has been Head of the Chechan Republic since 2007. Picture: AP Photo/Denis Tyrin.

It appears Musks’ threat to “challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat” for the fate of Ukraine angered the Chechan leader.

Writing on Telegram, the suspected war criminal said that in order for Musk to beat Mr Putin in a fight he would require immense training.

“Elon Musk, a word of advice: Don’t measure strength against that of Putin’s,” he wrote, in an English translation shared by Musk.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich (Mr Putin’s middle name) will look unsportsmanlike when he beats the hell out of you, a much weaker opponent.”

Telegram post by Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Chechen Republic! pic.twitter.com/UyByR9kywq

— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022

He also snubbed Musk by calling him “gentle (effeminate) Elona” and offered him training in three Chechan institutes: The Russian Special Forces University, the Akhmat Fight Club and the Grozny Chechen State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.

In response, Musk retaliated with a snarky tweet himself and changed his Twitter name from Elon Musk to Elona Musk.

“Thank you for the offer, but such excellent training would give me too much of an advantage,” he wrote.

“If he is afraid to fight, I will agree to use only my left hand and I am not even left-handed. Elona.”

Thank you for the offer, but such excellent training would give me too much of an advantage.

If he is afraid to fight, I will agree to use only my left hand and I am not even left-handed.

Elona

— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Musk has used Twitter to support Ukraine’s efforts and denounce Putin’s actions.

However, on Tuesday, the world’s richest man put his own skin in the game in which he challenged the Russian President to an one-on-one fight.

“I hereby challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat. Stakes are Ukraine,” he said, using Russian and Ukrainian language for effect.

“If Putin could so easily humiliate the west, then he would accept the challenge. But he will not,” he added.

I hereby challenge
Владимир Путин
to single combat

Stakes are Україна

— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022

While the Kremlin didn‘t respond to Musk’s threat directly, the boss of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos did weigh in.

“You, little devil, are still young,” director general Dmitry Rogozin said in response to Musk’s tweet.

“Compete with me weakling; It would only be a waste of time. Overtake my brother first.”

Musk then responded with another gibe aimed at Mr Putin.

“I see you are a tough negotiator! OK, you can have 10% more pay per view money,” he wrote in response, alongside a picture of a bare-chested Mr Putin riding a bear through a stream, and a photo of himself wielding a flamethrower.

Currently, the photo continues to be Musks’ pinned tweet on his Twitter profile.

I see you are a tough negotiator!

Ok, you can have 10% more pay per view money. pic.twitter.com/Nrbkz9IsTP

— Elona Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2022

Prior to this Twitter stoush, Musk supported Ukraine’s fight against Russian forces by bolstering the country’s communication abilities.

On Friday, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO sent millions of dollars worth of Starlink Rapid Deployment Kits, as well as power adaptors for car cigarette lighters, solar/battery packs and electricity generators.

Currently on day 20 of the invasion, British intelligence reports that Russian troops are struggling to bolster and support their forces.

In its daily update on the war, the British Department of Defence revealed Russia was “increasingly seeking to generate additional troops to bolster and replace its personnel losses in Ukraine”.

“As a result of these losses, it is likely Russia is struggling to conduct offensive operations in the face of sustained Ukrainian resistance. Continued personnel losses will also make it difficult for Russia to secure occupied territory.”

While major cities like Mariupol, Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv continue to be under Russian shelling and attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens on Sunday that their military had “reached a strategic turning point”.

“It is impossible to say how many days we still have (ahead of us) to free Ukrainian land. But we can say we will do it,” he said.

“We are already moving towards our goal, our victory.”