Ukraine withdraws from Avdiivka as shortages bite, Putin hails 'important victory'

KYIV, (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops withdrew from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka, Kyiv's military chief said yesterday, and Russian President Vladimir Putin called the capture of the city "an important victory."

It was Russia's biggest advance since it took the city of Bakhmut last May, and came as Ukraine faces acute shortages of ammunition with fresh U.S. military aid delayed for months in Congress.

Nearly two years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is the clearest sign yet of how the tide of the war has turned in Moscow's favour after a Ukrainian counteroffensive failed to break through Russian lines last year.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned this week that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new U.S. military aid package for Kyiv.

A White House statement on Saturday said Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday to underscore the U.S. commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and reiterated the need for Congress to urgently pass the package to resupply Ukrainian forces.

The White House said the withdrawal had been forced upon Ukraine "by dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction," that had forced Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition and resulted in "Russia’s first notable gains in months."

Putin congratulated military units and their commander after being presented with a report on the capture of the city from Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Kremlin said on its website.