Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk mockingly challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to a “single combat” battle in a Twitter post to the Kremlin’s English language account.
“I hereby challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat,” Musk tweeted, using the Russian alphabet to spell Putin’s name.
“Stakes are Ukraine,” he added, writing the country’s name in Ukrainian.
I hereby challenge
Владимир Путин
to single combatStakes are Україна
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
Musk’s post was followed with two additional posts. In the next post, he claimed in response to one user’s question that he was “absolutely serious.”
I am absolutely serious
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
In another post directly following up on his original one, Musk added in Russian, “Do you agree to this fight?”
Вы согласны на этот бой? @KremlinRussia_E
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
The posts come after Musk’s personal involvement to support Ukraine through his donations of Starlink technology. The Starlink terminals from Musk had reportedly arrived in Ukraine to help get critical satellite internet service to many in the nation since Russia’s invasion more than two weeks ago.
Musk was recently praised for responding to the Ukrainian government’s plea to provide SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband service so that Ukrainians could access the internet after Russian military forces invaded the country. The Daily Wire reported:
Musk made the remark on social media in response to a tweet from Mykhailo Fedorov, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, who tweeted: “@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.”
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” Musk responded. “More terminals en route.”
Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine: “Starlink terminals are coming to Ukraine! Thank you @elonmusk , thank you everyone, who supported Ukraine!”
On March 9, a second shipment of Starlink stations arrived in Ukraine.
“Received the second shipment of Starlink stations! @elonmusk keeps his word!” Mykhailo Fedorov, the vice prime minister of Ukraine, tweeted. “Thank you for supporting Ukraine and peace in the entire world! @OMarkarova thanks!”
“You’re welcome,” Musk responded. “We have also sent power adapters for car cigarette lighters, solar/battery packs and generators for places where electricity is not available.”
Received the second shipment of Starlink stations! @elonmusk keeps his word! Thank you for supporting Ukraine and peace in the entire world! @OMarkarova thanks! pic.twitter.com/hNZwsXkOCT
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) March 9, 2022
The donations also led to a phone call between Musk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the president thanking Musk for providing Starlink satellite services and inviting him to visit the nation once the invasion ends.
“Talked to @elonmusk. I’m grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with words and deeds,” Zelensky tweeted. “Next week we will receive another batch of Starlink systems for destroyed cities. Discussed possible space projects. But I’ll talk about this after the war.”
Talked to @elonmusk. I’m grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with words and deeds. Next week we will receive another batch of Starlink systems for destroyed cities. Discussed possible space projects 🚀. But I’ll talk about this after the war.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 5, 2022
The Starlink satellites could serve to meet important needs as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine extends now more than two weeks. More than 2.5 million Ukrainians have fled the nation, with another estimated two million people displaced within the country.
In addition, one million children have fled Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion, as Europe faces its largest refugees crisis since World War II.