CLAIM: The Russians displayed an intercontinental missile in Red Square with the phrase “After me, there is only silence.”
VERDICT: The photo dates back to 2013, and the phrase “After me, only silence” was digitally added.
Example of recent post on X:
On November 21, 2024, it was reported that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), identified by Ukrainian officials as the RS-26 Rubezh, targeting infrastructure in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine. According to statements from a Pentagon spokesperson, the missile that struck the industrial complex in Dnipro was a version of the medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) RS-26 (РС-26 Рубеж), known to NATO as SS-X-31. Vladimir Putin stated that the strike was not carried out with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) but with a new model of a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called “Oreshnik“.
In the photograph in question, the intercontinental missile, mounted on a 8X8 transporter erector launcher (TEL), is an RT-2PM2 Topol-M (NATO designation SS-27 “Sickle B”). The missile is inscribed with the phrase “ПОСЛЕ МЕНЯ-ТОЛЬКО ТИШИНА,” which translates into “After me, only silence.”
To determine the photo’s origin, a reverse image search was conducted using TinEye. We found that the photograph was taken on May 7, 2013, in Red Square during preparations for the annual Victory Day parade. The original photo does not contain the controversial inscription, which was added digitally.
Conclusion
The photo dates back to 2013, and the phrase “After me, only silence” was digitally added.