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‘Most powerful’: What’s the Sarmat missile Russia has test-launched?

Al Jazeera · · 999 words · By Sarah Shamim
Nuclear Arms Race Military Modernization Russia-West Strategic Tension
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/13/most-powerful-whats-the-sarmat-missile-…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Exaggeration / Hyperbole 90% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

23 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 13
check_circle Corroborated 6
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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“Russia has tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of its efforts to modernise its nuclear forces”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources, including CBS News and Wikipedia, confirm that Russia has conducted test launches of the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM as part of its nuclear modernization.
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web search NEUTRAL — Russian intercontinental ballistic missile.On 18 February 2023, a test of the RS-28 missile was conducted by the Russian Federation; the US claimed that this test was unsuccessful, but this has not be…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-28_Sarmat
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web search NEUTRAL — Russia on Tuesday test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernize the country's nuclear forces, a launch hailed by President Vladimir Putin just days after his clai…
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-test-launch-missile-sata…
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web search NEUTRAL — The Russian Armed Forces on May 13 conducted a successful test launch of the world’s largest missile, the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental range ballistic missile (ICBM), which was confirmed by Commander…
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-world-large…
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“the combined power of its individually targeted warheads is more than four times that of any of its Western counterparts”
CORROBORATED
The claim that the warhead yield is more than four times that of Western counterparts is explicitly attributed to Vladimir Putin in reports from TASS and The Mirror.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Oreshnik (Russian: Орешник, lit. 'Hazel shrub'), is a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) characterized by its reported speed exceeding Mach 10 (12,300 km/h; 7,610 mph; 3.40 km/s), acc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreshnik_(missile)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The RS-26 Rubezh (Russian: РС-26 Рубеж, meaning frontier or boundary), designated by NATO as SS-X-31, is a Russian solid-fueled intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a nuclear warhead, of w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-26_Rubezh
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation (RVSN RF) is a separate combat arm of the Russian Armed Forces that controls Russia's land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). It w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Rocket_Forces
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile will enter combat service at the end of the year”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that Putin stated the missile would enter combat service at the end of the year, though some sources suggest deployment dates as late as 2026.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Russia plans to deploy its new RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile later this year, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces told President Vladimir Putin following a test ...
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/12/russia-slates-sarm…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Russian Armed Forces on May 13 conducted a successful test launch of the world's largest missile, the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental range ballistic missile (ICBM), which was confirmed by Commander…
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-world-large…
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web search NEUTRAL — Putin said the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile will enter combat service at the end of the year. It has been built to replace the ageing Soviet-built Voyevoda. What is the Sarmat? The RS-28 Sarmat ...
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/13/most-powerful-whats…
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“It has been built to replace the ageing Soviet-built Voyevoda”
CORROBORATED
Both News18 and Missile Threat confirm that the RS-28 Sarmat was designed to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda (SS-18 Satan) missiles.
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web search NEUTRAL — The RS-28 Sarmat, often colloquially referred to as Satan II by media outlets, is a three-stage Russian silo-based, liquid-fueled, HGV-capable and FOBS-capable super-heavy intercontinental ballistic m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-28_Sarmat
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web search NEUTRAL — As is readily apparent, the RS-28 Sarmat test was a complete failure. The missile detonated in the silo leaving a massive crater and destroying the test site. The Sarmat is a liquid fueled missile so …
https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/rs-28.htm
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web search NEUTRAL — Sarmat to replace Soviet-era Voyevoda missiles in Russia. Putin says Sarmat will enter combat duty by end of 2024.
https://www.news18.com/world/what-is-sarmat-aka-satan-ii-rus…
info
“The RS-28 Sarmat, called “Satan II” in the West, is an intercontinental ballistic missile – a land-based guided missile designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons with a minimum range of 5,500km (about 3,400 miles).”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general identity of the RS-28 Sarmat as a nuclear ICBM is verified, the specific 'minimum range of 5,500km' was not explicitly corroborated in the provided evidence snippets (which focused on maximum range).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — RS, formerly Allied Electronics, is an omni-channel provider of industrial and electronics products and solutions to industrial customers across the Americas.
https://us.rs-online.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Whenever you need high-quality parts on time and on budget, you can count on RS Components to deliver. We're the world's leading high-service distributor of electronics, automation and control compone…
https://int.rsdelivers.com/campaigns/services/welcome-rs
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · We believe that if our colleagues are happy, healthy, motivated, challenged and supported then they can do their best work at RS, and consequently our customers, suppliers, communities and…
https://www.rsgroup.com/
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“Putin said on Tuesday that it has a maximum range of more than 35,000km (21,750 miles)”
CORROBORATED
TASS and other news summaries explicitly report Vladimir Putin's claim that the missile has a range of 35,000 km.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The RS-28 Sarmat, often colloquially referred to as Satan II by media outlets, is a three-stage Russian silo-based, liquid-fueled, HGV-capable and FOBS-capable super-heavy intercontinental ballistic m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-28_Sarmat
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The range of Russia’s Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system is a staggering 35,000 km, President Vladimir Putin has said. "The missile can move not only on a ballistic but also…
https://tass.com/defense/2129901
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web search NEUTRAL — Putin UNLEASHES RS-Samrat Missiles With 35,000 KM Range and Pin-Point Accuracy; Trump in SHOCK.Russia Completes Final Test of “Sarmat” Missile, the 35,000 km Range “Satan II”.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…
info
“Western analysts have estimated an actual maximum range of about 18,000km (11,000 miles)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim returned information about the 'Western' film genre and Western Union, failing to provide any actual analyst estimates for the missile's range.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Western is a genre of fiction typically set in the American frontier (commonly referred to as the "Old West" or the "Wild West") between the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the closing of the fro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_(genre)
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web search NEUTRAL — The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that [embody] the spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the new frontier." [1] .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_film
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web search NEUTRAL — Jul 19, 2018 · Log in or sign up and create your free profile to send money online. Send money, pay bills, check exchange rates, or start a transfer in the app and pay in-store — all on the go.
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/home.html
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“The missile has been in development since 2011”
CORROBORATED
Missile Threat and other reports state that production contracts were awarded in early 2011 and development started around that time.
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web search NEUTRAL — The RS-28 Sarmat, often colloquially referred to as Satan II by media outlets, is a three-stage Russian silo-based, liquid-fueled, HGV-capable and FOBS-capable super-heavy intercontinental ballistic m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-28_Sarmat
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Designed to replace Russia’s aging SS-18 Satan ICBM, the RS-28 Sarmat began development some time in the 2000s.1 After awarding production contracts to Makeyev Design Bureau and NPOMash in early 2011,…
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/rs-28-sarmat/
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web search NEUTRAL — The development of RS-28 Sarmat was started more than a decade ago, in 2011. The new missile will be able to penetrate enemy missile defense systems and have the ability to travel through both the Nor…
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/russias-200-ton-rs-28-sarmat-i…
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“will replace about 40 Soviet-built Voyevoda missiles”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the specific number of Voyevoda missiles (40) being replaced.
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“One test in September 2024 reportedly ended in an enormous explosion”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding a test explosion specifically in September 2024.
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“The Sarmat’s maximum payload is 10 tonnes, according to an April 2024 report by the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank.”
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“The CSIS added that the Sarmat is 35.3 metres (116ft) long and 3 metres (9.8ft) in diameter and weighs 208.1 tonnes.”
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“Western estimates placed the range of the Voyevoda at 16,000km (about 9,900 miles).”
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“the Sarmat is capable of suborbital flight”
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“Moscow is 7,500km (4,660 miles) away from New York, and about 9,700km (6,030 miles) away from Phoenix, Arizona.”
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“Moscow’s newest weapons include the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound.”
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“Russia has also commissioned the new nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile”
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“Oreshnik’s range of up to 5,000km (3,100 miles) means it is capable of reaching any target in Europe.”
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“Putin has also announced Russia is in the “final stages” of development of the nuclear-armed Poseidon underwater drone and the Burevestnik cruise missile, powered by miniature atomic reactors.”
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“the US Congressional Budget Office released an analysis estimating that US President Donald Trump’s plans for a new missile defence system known as the “Golden Dome” will cost $1.2 trillion to build and maintain over the next 20 years.”
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“Ukraine has most recently struck gas facilities in southwestern Russia’s Orenburg region, more than 1,500km (932 miles) from the Ukrainian border”
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“the war in Ukraine, which began more than four years ago”
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“Since the start of the full-scale Ukraine war in February 2022”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.