Anonymous Slams Elon Musk, Calls Billionaire's Challenge To Russia's Vladimir Putin A 'Publicity Stunt'

Anonymous, the decentralized international activist and hacktivist collective, has slammed Space X founder and tech billionaire Elon Musk for challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin to a "single combat," calling it a "publicity stunt."

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is ongoing, and it appears Musk isn't happy with the way things are going. He recently challenged Putin to a duel in a tweet wherein he wrote the leader's name and Ukraine in Russian.

"I hereby challenge Владимир Путин [Vladimir Putin] to Single combat," he tweeted Monday. "Stakes are Україна [Ukraine]."

In another tweet, the tech billionaire taunted Russia by saying, "Вы согласны на этот бой?" [Do you agree to this fight?] He even tagged @KremlinRussia_E, which is the official Twitter handle of the president of Russia.

Musk's move did not go unnoticed, and while it did not get any reaction from Russia, it was slammed by the hacktivist collective Anonymous. @YourAnonNews, the Twitter handle representing the international activist collective, retweeted the tech billionaire while offering its criticism.

"Elon has no authority regarding the legal status of statehood & sovereignty of Ukraine," Anonymous said, noting that Musk has no right to wager Ukraine. "People are suffering, innocents are being killed, cities are being bombed, women and children are dying: Elon pushes publicity stunt. Shame on you."

It is not the first time the hacktivist collective has slammed the tech billionaire. In June 2021, Anonymous posted a video blasting Musk for "constantly trolling" cryptocurrency markets.

"Recently… people are beginning to see you as another narcissistic rich due who is desperate for attention," the person wearing a Guy Fawkes mask said in the video.

"Millions of retail investors were really counting on their crypto gains to improve their lives. Of course, they took the risk upon themselves when they invested, and everyone knows to be prepared for volatility in crypto, but your tweets this week show a clear disregard for the average working person," the masked individual continued.

So far, Musk has not yet responded to Anonymous' recent dig against him.

It can be recalled that Musk earlier responded to Ukraine's plea for internet connection and immediately activated his commercial internet network Starlink in the country. He also said, "More terminals en route."