 Ukraine risks losing more ground beyond Avdeevka due to ammunition shortage, Pentagon. As Avdeevka-Denezhko-Oblast is on the verge of being captured by Russian troops, Ukraine could lose even more ground in the future due to a critical shortage of ammunition and anti-aircraft defense systems, the US Department of Defense said. The Pentagon's press service cited an unnamed Department of Defense official saying that without additional US funding, Ukraine will not be able to defend itself against Russian aggression. Besides artillery shells, Kyiv currently has very limited anti-aircraft resources to protect critical infrastructure and the frontline from Russian attacks. In relation to Avdeevka, the US official told journalists other areas will fall along with Avdeevka. Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the frontline city of Avdeevka to avoid being encircled. New military chief Oleksandr Sirsky said, it is the most significant territorial gain for Russian forces since they seized the eastern city of Bakhmut last May and comes ahead of the second anniversary of the start of the invasion. Russia captured some Ukrainian soldiers during the withdrawal of Kyiv's forces from the key town of Avdeevka according to Ukraine's commander of southern forces. The move followed an intensification of Moscow's attacks on the area in recent weeks. As Russia pummeled it with airstrikes and artillery and sent wave after wave of ground assaults by armoured vehicles and soldiers, withdrawing from the town was the only correct solution Ukraine's commander of southern forces Oleksandr Tarnovsky said.