Russia hit Odesa with "Onyx": why these missiles cannot be shot down and where they can reach 

The Russian army launched a missile attack on Odesa on the night of September 25, using “Onyx“ missiles. Yuriy Ignat, Spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commenting on the Russian attack, said that it is almost impossible to shoot them down. 

Military expert Oleh Zhdanov explained what you need to know about these missiles, why they are out of reach for air defense, their potential range, and how many of them are still in Russia. 

What is the “Onyx” missile 

The "Onyx" missile, also known as the P-800, is a Russian supersonic anti-ship missile launched from the coastal “Bastion-P” missile system. This system has its origins in the Soviet era.  

"They were initially developed for the destruction of surface targets. However, they have been improved, and today they can be used against land-based targets, i.e., targets located on land," explained Oleh Zhdanov. 

The missile characteristics: range, speed, weight 

The range of the “Onyx” missile is 600 kilometers, its main part weighs 300 kilograms, and its maximum speed is 884 meters per second. 

"It can be compared to the “Kalibr” missile in practice. It's very powerful, with 300 kilograms of explosive, which is quite a lot. We are begging to be given a missile with such a warhead, I mean “ATACMS”, and they (the Russians) have almost every missile like that," says the military expert. 

Is it possible to shoot down this missile 

According to Oleh Zhdanov, it is very difficult to shoot down the Russian “Onyx” missile. Its main feature is that it is supersonic and flies over a short distance. 

"On such a short distance at such a high speed, you can see it, but shooting it down is impossible. It takes just minutes for it to reach its maximum range," he explained. 

The only systems that may attempt to intercept this missile are the “Patriot” system or the “SAMP/T” system, according to the military expert. 

"But the missile needs to enter the zone of destruction of air defense systems. Only then might it be possible to intercept it," Oleh Zhdanov noted. 

Where can the “Onyx” missile reach in Ukraine 

The Russians launch the "Onyx" missiles from the occupied Crimea and they can reach Ukrainian cities within a range of 600 kilometers. This means they can cover the entire southern part of Ukraine. 

Due to the missile's high speed, Ukrainian cities may not have enough time to activate air raid alerts before the missiles strike. Therefore, sometimes the alarms sound only after the explosions occur. 

How many “Onyx” missiles Russia possess 

The Russians currently do not manufacture “Onyx” missiles, because they have large reserves. 

"There are a lot of such missiles in Russia. They do not need to make them today, because they still have Soviet stocks. They are counted in hundreds," Oleh Zhdanov said. 

When the Russians used "Onyx" 

The military expert noted that the Russian army constantly attacks Ukraine with “Onyx” missiles. The first cases were at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. So, on April 30, 2022, the occupiers used “Bastion-P” to shell the Odesa airport.  

“They had breaks lasting for several months, but they periodically employ this coastal missile system specifically for shelling the south of our country," says Oleh Zhdanov. 

Read also:

• "Missiles arrive at such a time": Zhdanov explained when Russia most often attacks

• Missile attack on Cherkasy: what was the target of the occupiers

• The enemy attacked Odesa: there were hits to the recreational infrastructure

• Occupiers struck Nikopol: there is an injured, houses and a kindergarten were damaged (photos)

• Why does Russia actively hit the Odesa region with “Onyx” missiles: Ignat's explanation

• The hotel was destroyed: what does the Naval Station in Odesa look like after the Russian attack (photos)