LUGANSK, September 23. /TASS/. Russian forces have almost completely driven the Ukrainian military out of Klinovoye near Druzhkovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and expanded their area of control near neighboring Popasnaya, with the area being cleared, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS.

"Speaking about Druzhkovka, it can be noted that our servicemen have recently made progress southeast of this settlement: the area of control has been expanded in the Popasnaya area. Also, almost all Ukrainian militants have now been driven out of the settlement of Klinovoye, and the area is being cleared," he said.

Marochko added that Russian forces are also developing their offensive toward Druzhkovka from the side of Kurtovka. "There have been some minor gains in the area of Rayskoye, which is located southwest of Druzhkovka," the military expert said.

Marochko earlier told TASS that the Ukrainian military had withdrawn from Popasnaya in the Druzhkovka area to the northwest, toward Klinovoye.