--- title: "Elon Musk Warns “Civilization Is Over” If Ukraine Doesn’t Give in to Russia" description: "Self-proclaimed political expert and richest man in the world Elon Musk has issued a stark warning to Ukraine as Russia's invasion continues." date: "2022-10-17" modified: "2022-10-17" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-civilization-ukraine-russia" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "Russia" - "the digest" - "ukraine" --- # Elon Musk Warns “Civilization Is Over” If Ukraine Doesn’t Give in to Russia ![Newly-minted political expert Elon Musk has issued a stark warning to Ukraine as Russia's invasion of the former Eastern Bloc country continues. ]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## Nuclear Meltdown Self-proclaimed political expert Elon Musk has issued a stark warning to Ukraine as Russia's invasion continues. Using Twitter, the platform he is [likely to soon own and control](), the world's richest man made a number of eyebrow-raising predictions for eventualities regarding the outcome of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "If Russia is faced with the choice of losing Crimea or using battlefield nukes, they will choose the latter," the SpaceX and Tesla CEO [tweeted](). "\[The West has\] already sanctioned/cutoff Russia in every possible way, so what more do they have left to lose?" "If we nuke Russia back, they will nuke us and then we have WW3," he added. In short, Musk is arguing that Ukraine should give in to Russia's demands, or else — a highly controversial perspective that has already [landed him in hot water recently](). Last week, he announced SpaceX will [no longer supply Starlink]() internet satellite tech to Ukraine, a decision [he reversed]() two days later. ## Losing Pearl Harbor Once again, Musk appears here to be focused on Russia's [claims to the Crimean Peninsula](), a conflict that has flared up repeatedly since Russia annexed it eight years ago — and which has been the subject of other recent Twitter tomfoolery from the billionaire entrepreneur. "Whether one likes it or not, Crimea is absolutely seen as a core part of Russia by Russia," Musk continued in his [buried Twitter thread](). "Crimea is also of critical national security importance to Russia, as it is their southern navy base. From their standpoint losing Crimea is like USA losing Hawaii & Pearl Harbor." ## Tactless Jokes Musk also played out a different doomsday scenario in his head. "If Russia faces destruction of their army and utter defeat by NATO, they will use nukes," he noted, "then NATO will respond with nukes and civilization is over." In true Musk fashion, he followed up his warning with a tactless and seriously misplaced joke. "But, hey, look on the bright side!" he [continued](). "At least Russia doesn’t get Crimea in that scenario, so you can be comforted by that thought, while watching the mushroom clouds rise." **More mutual admiration:** [*Russia Says Thanks Elon Musk, We Love You Too*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()