Russian strike sparks fire at Ukraine port; Zelenskyy seeks interceptors | Russia-Ukraine war News
Ukraine Reports Severe Shortage of Patriot Interceptors Amid Ongoing Attacks
Published on August 13, 2026
Russian forces targeted the Izmail port in southern Odesa, resulting in a fire and significant damage, according to local authorities. The attack occurred a day after Ukraine launched strikes on Russia’s Novorossiysk port.
Early Thursday, the Izmail Regional State Administration announced via the Telegram messaging app that Russian forces struck the “port infrastructure.” Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze.
Izmail, located near the Romanian border, is home to Ukraine’s largest Danube port, crucial for the handling of grain and other commodities.
The assaults on Izmail coincided with comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who told CNN that Ukraine requires access to 5 percent of the United States’ stock of Patriot interceptor missiles to endure the winter and 10 percent to effectively neutralize all of Russia’s ballistic projectiles.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified missile attacks on Kyiv, reportedly conducting strikes approximately once a week that have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to residential areas. In one instance, Ukraine was unable to intercept any of the 28 ballistic missiles launched toward its territory.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has experienced a significant decrease in available interceptors this year, stating, “This year, we had two and a half times less interceptors than we had in 2025.” He further remarked, “Russia has two times more ballistic missiles per month than they had before.” The president has appealed to American officials to provide 5 percent of the interceptors in U.S. reserves, indicating that such support would enable Ukraine to navigate the winter and protect its citizens.
Ukraine has been grappling with an acute shortage of Patriot interceptors since the United States and Israel initiated military operations against Iran in February, which redirected supply chains of these advanced defense systems.
Ballistic missiles pose a greater challenge for interception compared to cruise missiles or drones due to their higher velocities and steep flight paths.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian air force announced it would cease the release of detailed statistics regarding Russian ballistic missile strikes, citing difficulties in intercepting the increasing volume of attacks. Yurii Ihnat, the air force communications chief, stated on Facebook that while the specifics of launched, intercepted, or failed targets would no longer be disclosed, real-time alerts would remain in effect, along with general updates on missile launches.
In July, Russia launched over 450 missiles at Ukraine, nearly 200 of which were on ballistic trajectories.
When asked whether he had received a response to his requests from the United States, Zelenskyy expressed hope that Ukraine would obtain the necessary interceptors. “From 1 percent to 5 percent, I have some months and millions of phone calls and anything else,” he said. “I do some things which I can’t even share. It doesn’t mean that it’s out of the law. But I can’t speak about it.”
