Ukrainian authorities on Friday gradually restored power, aided by the reconnection of the country's four nuclear plants, but millions of people were still in the dark after the most devastating Russian air strikes of the war.

Eastern Europe's arms industry is churning out guns, artillery shells and other military supplies at a pace not seen since the Cold War as governments in the region lead efforts to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

The US is starting to worry about the lack of state-of-the-art systems and ammunition it is sending to Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia, CNN reported on Thursday, citing sources.

Russian attacks Ukrainian positions with missiles and shells in several regions and there was no let up in heavy fighting in Donetsk in the east, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday night as Moscow's occupying forces appeared more active.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared Kherson "ours" after Russia withdrew troops from the city, which the US hailed Saturday as an "extraordinary victory".

US approved $400 million weapons sale to Ukraine that includes air defense systems and surface-to-air missiles as part of a security assistance package, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

South Korea denies arms sale to Ukraine on Friday and rejected a report that it would sell artillery shells for use by Ukrainian forces, claiming the munitions -- if the ongoing deal negotiation is finalised -- will be for US forces only.

The administration of US President Joe Biden has rebuffed Kiev’s requests to provide it with state-of-the-art drones over concerns that doing so could escalate the Ukraine conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was shot and wounded during his anti-government protest march on Thursday, has said he will be back on the streets once he recovers fully.

Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed the evacuation of civilians from parts of Ukraine's southern Kherson region on Friday, the latest sign of Russia's retreat in one of the most bitterly contested areas in Ukraine.

The world must respond firmly to any Russian attempts to disrupt Ukraine's grain export corridor, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as more ships were loading despite Moscow suspending its participation in a U.N.-brokered deal.

The US will send an initial two NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine “in the very near future,” a Pentagon official said on Monday. With Russia targeting Ukrainian power infrastructure using missiles and drones, Kiev has lobbied the West for better air defense weaponry.