Kathrine Frich
Errol Musk, the father of American billionaire and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, has announced that he would like to become a Russian citizen.
In an interview with the state news agency TASS, the 78-year-old engineer described the idea as “a great honor,” sparking widespread attention across international media.
Admiration for Moscow
During his visit to Moscow and Kazan, Errol Musk met with local journalists and members of the technology sector.
When asked whether he would consider applying for Russian citizenship, he reportedly paused and said:
“Of course, why not. Good question. I’m surprised, I didn’t expect such a question. Yes, why not? It would be a great honor for me.”
It is not the first time the elder Musk has expressed admiration for Russian leadership.
During a previous visit, he said he would like to meet President Vladimir Putin “to learn what it means to be a good leader.”
The statement drew mixed reactions online, particularly given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
A complicated figure
Errol Musk, a South African-born electromechanical engineer and property developer, has long been a controversial figure.
His relationship with his son, Elon, has been distant and often strained.
In interviews, Elon Musk has described his father as a “terrible person” and said that growing up with him was difficult. Errol, in turn, has dismissed those claims and accused the media of exaggeration.
The two have had little contact in recent years.
Errol still lives in South Africa, while Elon has built his life and companies in the United States.
Despite their differences, the elder Musk occasionally comments publicly on his son’s career and private life, often causing confusion or irritation within Elon’s circle.
Ties and tensions with Russia
While Errol Musk has voiced admiration for Russia, Elon Musk’s relationship with Moscow has been far more complex.
SpaceX, his private space company, helped end America’s dependence on Russian Soyuz rockets for transporting astronauts to orbit.
In 2020, the first U.S. crewed flight launched from American soil since 2011, a move seen as a symbolic break from reliance on Russia’s space industry.
At the same time, Elon Musk’s satellite company, Starlink, has played a central role in Ukraine’s defense communications since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Although he has occasionally criticized aspects of Western military involvement, Musk’s technology has been used extensively by Ukrainian forces.
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Sources: TASS, Digi24, BBC, Reuters, The Guardian.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
