SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is issuing a combat challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin to determine the fate of Ukraine.
On Monday morning, Musk then turned his attention to Putin as he wrote, “I hereby challenge [Vladimir Putin] to single combat. Stakes are [Ukraine.]
In Russian, he asked, “Do you agree to this fight?”
Вы согласны на этот бой? @KremlinRussia_E
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
Dmitry Rogozin, director general of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, reacted on Twitter as he wrote, “You, little devil, are still young, Compete with me weakling; It would only be a waste of time. Overtake my brother first.”
Ты, бесенок, еще молоденек,
— РОГОЗИН (@Rogozin) March 14, 2022
Со мною тягаться слабенек;
Это было б лишь времени трата.
Обгони-ка сперва моего брата.
А. С. Пушкин "Сказка о Попе и работнике его Балде" https://t.co/KuR328iH20
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted, “I am sure that [Musk] can send Putin to Jupiter.”
I am sure that @elonmusk can send Putin to Jupiter. https://t.co/bXxy7yaQxJ
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) March 14, 2022
Musk’s SpaceX has expanded its Starlink service to Ukraine, which provides satellite internet connection to the country. Ukrainians asked for the system amid fears that Russia would continue to target communication infrastructure and disrupt internet access.
He also took aim at Netflix over its response to the conflict by sharing a meme that included a manipulated screenshot from the streaming giant’s show “Narcos.”
The caption read, “Netflix waiting for the war to end to make a movie about a black ukraine guy falls in love with a transgender russian soldier [sic].”
Netflix suspended its service in Russia and put a freeze on future projects after it invaded Ukraine.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
Musk also tweeted a meme with a caption that read, “I support the current thing.”
It featured a figure holding the Ukrainian flag surrounded by other flags supporting various causes.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
The U.S. and its European allies have slapped Russia with sanctions targeting its financial sector, major companies, and Putin.
Other Russian government officials have been targeted with sanctions, and the U.S. banned imports of Russian energy, as IJR reported.
