Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated his army on the capture of the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka in the war he started against neighbouring Ukraine. “The president has congratulated our soldiers and fighters on such an important victory and such a success,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Saturday evening, according to the Interfax agency. According to the Ukrainian military, most of their soldiers have now withdrawn from the completely destroyed city in the Donetsk region. Both sides announced that the other had lost around 1,500 soldiers in the last 24 hours. Howe…