Kathmandu— Russian forces struck Ukraine’s Izmail port in the Odesa region on Thursday, igniting a fire at the crucial grain and commodity handling facility, authorities reported. The attack occurred just one day after Ukrainian forces targeted Russia’s Novorossiysk port. Simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to the United States for additional Patriot missile interceptors, stating Ukraine needs 5 percent of current US stocks to survive the winter and 10 percent to effectively counter Russian ballistic missiles, a request made more urgent by shortages stemming from diverted supplies following conflicts in February.

Port Attack and Emergency Response

The Izmail Regional State Administration announced via Telegram that the Russian strike targeted “port infrastructure,” resulting in damage and a subsequent fire. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to contain and extinguish the blaze. Izmail, situated near the Romanian border, serves as Ukraine’s largest port on the Danube River, playing a vital role in exporting grain and other commodities.

Interceptor Shortage and Zelenskyy's Appeal

President Zelenskyy, in an interview with CNN, emphasized the critical need for Patriot interceptor missiles. He stated that Ukraine currently possesses only 1 percent of the necessary interceptors and has experienced a significant decrease in available supplies this year – two and a half times less than in 2023. Zelenskyy explained that Russia is launching twice as many ballistic missiles per month compared to last year, increasing the strain on Ukrainian air defenses. “If they sell us 5 percent, we will go through the winter and save people’s lives,” he said. “If they can sell us 10 percent, we will destroy all the Russians’ ballistic missiles.”

Challenges Intercepting Ballistic Missiles

Ukraine is facing increasing difficulty intercepting Russia's barrage of ballistic missiles, which are more challenging to target than cruise missiles or drones due to their speed and trajectory. Last month alone, Russia launched over 450 missiles at Ukraine, nearly 200 of which followed ballistic paths. In a recent attack, Ukrainian forces failed to intercept any of the 28 ballistic missiles fired towards them.

Reduced Transparency on Interceptions

Responding to these challenges, Ukraine’s air force announced it will no longer publish detailed figures regarding Russian ballistic missile strikes. Air force communications chief Yurii Ihnat explained via Facebook that this decision concerns “the number of targets launched, shot down, suppressed or those that failed to reach their targets,” but real-time warnings and generalized launch figures will continue to be provided.

Zelenskyy indicated ongoing efforts to secure interceptors from the US, describing months of negotiations and undisclosed actions. He expressed hope for a positive response to his request.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.