Errol Musk just handed the Kremlin a massive PR win. In a move that's sent shockwaves through the tech world and the halls of Washington, the 79-year-old father of Elon Musk recently went on record stating that "Ukraine should be part of Russia." It wasn't just a casual remark over coffee. Errol made these comments while touring Russia, meeting with high-ranking officials, and even securing a brief audience with Vladimir Putin himself.
You've got to wonder what the SpaceX founder thinks of his dad's latest world tour. While Elon’s Starlink satellites are literally keeping the Ukrainian military's comms alive, his father is busy praising the man trying to dismantle that same nation. It’s a bizarre, high-stakes family drama played out on the stage of a brutal war.
The Moscow trip and the Putin meeting
Errol didn't just fly into Moscow to see the sights. He spent two weeks as a guest of the pro-Kremlin Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. According to reports from the state-run RIA Novosti, he met Putin for over an hour. Errol’s take? He was "in awe" of the Russian leader, calling him a "real man" and a "strong leader."
The "shock intervention" comes at a time when the war in Ukraine is at a critical juncture. For the father of the world's richest man—and a key U.S. defense contractor—to suggest that Ukraine essentially belongs to Russia isn't just an opinion. It’s a geopolitical hand grenade. Errol claims his family views align with his own, but Elon’s actions on the ground in Ukraine suggest otherwise. Or do they? The relationship between the Musks is famously fractured, yet they occasionally echo similar "realist" sentiments about "negotiated peace" and "land for blood."
South African farmers and the Russian refuge
The narrative gets even weirder. Errol isn't just talking politics; he’s pitching a resettlement plan. He’s reportedly working on a project to move 50 white South African farming families to the Vladimir region of Russia. He’s been telling Russian media that these farmers are facing "persecution" in South Africa—a claim the South African government vehemently denies.
- The Plan: Resettle Afrikaner families to high-tech plants and agricultural zones in Russia.
- The Justification: Errol claims it's about "providing refugee status" to those targeted by post-apartheid policies.
- The Controversy: It looks like a coordinated effort to align Russian interests with right-wing "white genocide" narratives that have gained traction in the U.S. and Europe.
By linking the plight of South African farmers to Russian territory, Errol is weaving a strange tapestry of grievances that serves the Kremlin’s "defender of traditional values" brand perfectly.
Why this matters for Elon and SpaceX
Don't think for a second the Pentagon isn't watching this. Elon Musk holds a top-secret U.S. security clearance. SpaceX is the backbone of NASA and the Department of Defense's satellite strategy. When your dad is in Moscow shaking hands with Putin and calling for the annexation of a U.S. ally, things get awkward fast.
Elon has previously described his father as "evil" and a "terrible human being." Yet, Errol’s recent comments about Ukraine and Putin often mirror the "peace proposals" Elon tweeted back in 2022—the ones that suggested Ukraine should stay neutral and cede Crimea. It’s hard to tell if this is a case of "like father, like son" or if Errol is simply riding the coattails of his son’s fame to get a seat at the table in Moscow.
The reality on the ground
While Errol talks about "logical" speeches and "strong leadership," the reality in Ukraine is vastly different. Russian forces have been accused of systemic war crimes, forced deportations of children, and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure. Errol’s claim that "only later will it be possible to understand who really started it" is a direct lift from the Kremlin’s playbook of historical revisionism.
It’s easy to talk about "land for peace" from a luxury hotel in Moscow or a house in Langebaan. It’s a lot harder when it’s your home being shelled. Errol’s intervention isn't just a family embarrassment; it’s a distraction from the humanitarian crisis and a gift to Russian state media.
If you're following this story, keep an eye on how the U.S. government responds to Errol's Russian ties. While he’s a private citizen, his proximity to the man running America’s space program makes his "pro-Russia" stance more than just an eccentric old man’s opinion. It’s a liability.
Start looking at the actual contracts SpaceX has with the government. If Errol’s influence—or even just the optics of his Russian tour—starts affecting Elon’s security clearance, the "Musk empire" might face its biggest challenge yet. Don't wait for the mainstream news to connect these dots for you; look at the filings yourself.
