Elon Musk fears for life after Russian threats
Tesla (TSLA) – Get Tesla Inc Report CEO Elon Musk has never been afraid to confront his opponents in public.
From his Silicon Valley colleagues recently Bill Gates, co-founder of software giant Microsoft (MSFT) – Get Microsoft Corporation Report, to President Joe Biden, the richest man in the world no one fears. It’s one of the qualities his more than 91.5 million Twitter followers admire.
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the series’ founder was the very first CEO of a multinational that supported Ukraine. Musk not only chose Kyiv, but he also sent Starlink terminals, the satellite Internet connection service of his space company SpaceX, to Ukraine. Not only does Starlink allow Ukrainians independent access to the Internet, the service allows the country to stay in touch with the outside world. Starlink is used especially in areas bombed by Russia and remote areas.
The service also helps Ukrainian authorities in the communication war against Moscow. Musk also challenged President Putin by proposing a duel with him to end this war. As of May 6, more than 3,1[ads1]50 civilians had been killed, and countless buildings had been shelled.
‘If I die’
Nearly 5.8 million Ukrainians, or about 14% of the country’s population, have become refugees after fleeing to neighboring countries.
Musk’s Ukrainian support has drawn criticism from some Putin loyalists who have called him by name. But the criticism now seems to have become a threat to the billionaire’s life. The technologist has in fact just posted a message on his Twitter account from Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
“@Rogozin sent this to Russian media,” Musk wrote on Twitter on May 8. He then posted a screenshot of a text in Russian that would be the message sent to the Russian press by Rogozin.
According to the translation made by TheStreet, this text contains threats to Musk’s life.
“From the testimony of the captured Chief of Staff of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Dmitry Kormyankov, it follows that the ground-based subscriber equipment of the Starlink satellite company Elon Musk was delivered to the Nazi militants. The Azov Battalion and the Marines in Ukraine to Mariupol by military helicopters, “wrote Rogozin.
“According to our information, the delivery and transfer to the armed forces of Ukraine of mailboxes for receiving and transmitting the Internet from Starlink was carried out by the Pentagon.”
He therefore concludes that “Elon Musk is thus involved in the supply of fascist forces in Ukraine with military communications”.
This is followed by threats on the life of the CEO of Tesla.
“And for this you must answer in an adult way, Elon, no matter how you turn on the fool.”
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Back in 2014, Rogozin was Deputy Prime Minister. At that time, Russia had begun its first intervention in Ukraine, and seized Crimea.
Musk seems to take these threats very seriously.
“If I die under mysterious circumstances, it’s been nice to know you,” the billionaire wrote. In an earlier tweet, he wonders about Rogozin’s use of the word ‘Nazi’.
“The word ‘Nazi’ does not mean what he seems to think it does,” said the billionaire.
A few hours after these tweets, Musk posted another where he promises to do everything to stay alive.
“Sorry! I will do my best to stay alive,” the mogul wrote.
“We must protect you at all costs”
TheStreet was unable to access Rogozin’s Twitter account, which is only available after approval. TheStreet can not confirm the text containing the threats and therefore trusts Musk’s post.
This is not the first time Rogozin has attacked Musk, but it is the first time he has made threats against the billionaire. Rogozin has already taken it out of Musk after he proposed the idea of a deadly battle between him and Putin.
“You, little devil, are still young,” Rogozin tweeted on Musk in March, quoting a fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin, a Russian poet known for hiding political messages in his stories. “Compete with me weak; It would just be a waste of time. Overtake my brother first.”
Musk’s posts have drawn a huge outpouring of sympathy from Twitter users. Many ask him to strengthen the security around him.
“We must protect you at all costs,” said crypto investor and influencer Anthony Pompliano. “Mankind trusts you.”
“If you feel the need, increase your security. The world needs you,” commented Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt.
“Are you assuming the assassination of Russian forces?” said another user.
Threats against Musk come at the end of May 9. The date, which celebrates when the Soviet Union declared its victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, has since become known as “Victory Day” in Russia and a number of post-Soviet states.
