Kathmandu— Russian forces struck Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, with ballistic missiles on Thursday, resulting in at least 13 deaths and 33 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. The explosions impacted the Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the city, causing building collapses, fires, and power outages. Emergency services are working to rescue those trapped in rubble as concerns grow over Ukraine’s dwindling supply of air defense interceptors. Neighboring NATO members Poland and Romania also activated their air defenses in response to the attacks.

Devastating Strikes Hit Residential Areas

In the Solomianskyi district, a nine-story residential building collapsed and caught fire following the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported via Telegram. A children’s hospital in the same district sustained damage, with shattered windows and burning vehicles on its grounds. Rescuers are currently working to extract individuals trapped within another damaged residential building, while parts of both Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts have experienced power outages.

The Emergency Services reported that fires broke out in residential buildings and warehouses across the capital during the “massive attack,” with at least 33 people wounded. Rescuers have already retrieved at least two individuals from the debris of collapsed structures.

Regional Impacts and Air Defense Responses

An additional fatality and injury were reported in the Brovary district of the Kyiv region, according to Governor Tymur Tkachenko, who stated that an industrial facility was damaged and firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze. Al Jazeera’s Audrey MacAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, noted ongoing air alarms throughout the city on Thursday morning.

The attacks prompted security responses in neighboring NATO countries. Poland mobilized aircraft and activated its air defenses to protect its airspace near Ukraine, while Romania detected aerial targets near its border, deploying fighter jets and a helicopter.

New Defense Minister Confirmed Amidst Political Tensions

The strikes occurred the day after Ukraine’s parliament confirmed Yevhenii Khmara as the new defense minister with an overwhelming majority of 312 votes. Khmara, a career intelligence official previously leading the Security Service of Ukraine's Alpha special operations unit, pledged to defend Ukraine and force Russia into a just peace.

However, not all lawmakers were convinced by the appointment. Opposition lawmaker Solomiia Bobrovska expressed concern that removing Khmara from intelligence work was “a mistake.” The confirmation fills the vacancy left by former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was ousted in July after disagreements with military leadership and subsequently called for wartime elections, arguing Ukraine faces a “systemic crisis of governance”.

Calls for Elections Spark Debate

Fedorov’s call for elections resonated with some citizens. Dozens demonstrated in Kyiv on Wednesday supporting his proposal, expressing concerns about the lack of accountability due to suspended elections under martial law. One protester, Emilia, stated, “It’s like we are in a trap…Because we have not had any elections, so the members of parliament…they understand that I can sit here and do whatever I want.”

Ukrainian law currently prohibits elections during wartime, and no major political figure has publicly challenged this since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. President Zelenskyy’s term ended in May 2024, but the presidential election has been postponed while martial law remains in effect.

Ukraine continues to face ongoing attacks from Russian forces as it navigates both military and political challenges. The confirmation of a new defense minister comes amidst calls for renewed leadership and questions about the future of elections during wartime.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.