Zelenskyy Seeks Patriot Missiles from US After Russian Attack on

Darwin, August 14 : Russia launched an overnight attack on Izmail, Ukraine’s largest grain export port, damaging port infrastructure and sparking fires. Amid the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the United States to provide Patriot missiles to help counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.

On Thursday (August 13), the Izmail regional administration said Russian strikes damaged port infrastructure and disrupted electricity supplies in the southeastern part of the city.

Located in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region near the Romanian border, Izmail is a key port for the export of grain and other goods. The Danube port has become increasingly important to Ukraine’s trade after the war disrupted exports through the Black Sea.

Following the attack near Izmail, neighbouring NATO and European Union member Romania scrambled two fighter jets as a precaution. Romania’s Defence Ministry said one aircraft remained in Romanian airspace for around 10 minutes before heading toward Ukraine.

Calling for Patriot missiles from the United States, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs at least 5% of the current US stockpile of Patriot missiles to counter Russia’s growing ballistic missile attacks.

In an interview with CNN, he said that receiving 10% of the US Patriot missile stockpile would enable Ukraine to intercept all Russian ballistic missile attacks.

“Sell us 5%, and we can get through the winter and save people’s lives,” Zelenskyy said. “If they can provide 10%, we can destroy all Russian ballistic missiles. I have 1%.”

Ukraine is currently pushing to obtain the latest PAC-3 version of the Patriot missile system, which is capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

However, US missile supplies to Ukraine have declined amid pressure on American stocks following the recent war with Iran.

Ballistic missiles travel much faster than drones or cruise missiles and follow a steep trajectory toward their targets, making them comparatively difficult to intercept.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia launched more than 450 missiles of various types at Ukraine in July alone, with more than half being ballistic missiles.

He also said the Ukrainian Air Force will no longer publish daily figures on how many Russian ballistic missiles were shot down or