LUGANSK, August 13. /TASS/. Russian forces are tightening a fire trap for Ukrainian troops near Volchansk after taking control of the settlement of Vodyanoye in the Kharkov Region, military expert Andrey Marochko said.

"The liberation of the settlement of Vodyanoye is another step towards encircling Ukrainian troops located east of the settlement of Volchansk. The Volchansk pocket continues to shrink," he told TASS.

Marochko told TASS earlier that Russian forces are expanding their positions near Volchansk and are advancing in various directions to encircle this settlement. According to him, up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops might be trapped in the Volchansk pocket.

The Russian defense ministry reported on August 12 that Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Vodyanoye in the Kharkov Region.