Violent explosions of air defense missiles roused the inhabitants of the Ukrainian capital Kiev from their sleep on Tuesday night. "Air defenses capture the targets," the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram, without giving further details. Representatives of the Kiev military administration also explain on the intelligence service that the air defense systems repelled attacks on the capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that rocket debris had fallen on the grounds of the city's zoo. According to him, three people were injured and a larger building was damaged. In addition, several cars caught fire. According to the military administration, four districts of the city were affected. Air raid alarms had been triggered throughout the country during the night.

According to Ukrainian sources, Russia probably used ballistic missiles in addition to drones and cruise missiles in the nightly air strike. "It was unusual in its intensity - the largest possible number of attack missiles in the shortest possible time," Serhiy Popko, head of the military administration of the city of Kyiv, said on the Telegram messaging app. "According to preliminary information, the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were discovered and destroyed!" It is the eighth attack on the capital this month.

Zelensky back in Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has returned to Ukraine after a tour of four European states. "We are returning home with new defense packages: more ammunition, more powerful weapons for the front, more protection for our people, more political support," the 45-year-old summed up the trip in a video recorded on the train on Monday. At all talks in Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain, his peace formula for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine was discussed.

There is now more support for the country's accession to the EU, Zelensky said. "There is more understanding for joining NATO, it will come, it is inevitable." He visited London on Monday, Berlin, Aachen and Paris on Sunday, and Rome on Saturday.

The President thanked Germany in particular for the new €2.7 billion defence package, including the Iris anti-aircraft systems, artillery, armoured technology and ammunition. "In addition, Germany is supporting our country in the long term: there are eleven billion euros for this, purely for defense," he said. His country's victory is now getting closer.

Macron holds out the prospect of training Ukrainian pilots

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron held out the prospect of training Ukrainian pilots for fighter jets after the meeting with Zelensky. "We have opened the door to train Ukrainian pilots," Macron said on French television channel TF1 on Monday evening. "The training can start now." Several European countries have come to the conclusion that it is now necessary to start training. Asked if France would also supply fighter jets, he replied: "No, I wasn't talking about airplanes."

Macron said in the interview that Ukraine would be supplied with more ammunition and material. In addition, they want to help train the troops and repair cannons and vehicles.