The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is expanding the bridgehead in the estuary: in ISW found out what the Russians thought of
The Russians also recently implemented a confirmed advancement southeast of the new (west of Novolyubivka). On March 31, Ukrainian military analyst Konstantin Mashovets said that Russian troops advanced to the southern outskirts of Katerynivka (northwest of Novolyubivka). The ISW reminded that in early January, the army of the Russian Federation advanced across the river Star to the Western (right) coast and over the last three months slowly expanded its bridgehead on the right bank.
"The Russian troops began to displace the Ukrainian forces from their positions on the eastern (left) bank of the Zherebets River at the end of 2023, and only recently created a relatively stable bridgehead, from which further offensive operations could begin," the Institute of War Study said.
The report also states that Russian military bloggers and Mashovets consistently attribute the initial promotion to the west shore, and subsequently the extension of the bridgehead, the elements of the 144th and the 3rd Motorized Rifle Divisions (the 20th Moscow Army of the Moscow Military District). ISW analysts are convinced that Russian troops seem to have a significant advantage in living strength to promote in the area.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian brigade operating in the Liman direction, on March 31, said that since January 2025, the Russians have been carrying out almost exclusively infantry attacks in the area and rarely use armored vehicles. The Institute of War Study also did not see videos of any noticeable Russian mechanized attacks in the area in 2025.
On March 31, the Ukrainian Khortytsa group reported that Russian troops intensified infantry attacks in the Lyman direction and have significantly more forces in the area, mostly well-trained contract servicemen. Another Ukrainian brigade, operating in the Lymansky direction, reported on March 24 that in some areas in these areas of the Russian Federation have a tenfold advantage in a living force over the defense forces.
"The Russian military command seems to intensify and replace the loss of personnel among the advanced units of the 3rd and 144th Motorized Rifle Divisions, since these formations have been in the area at least 2023 and, it seems, has never been displayed for rest and restoration,"-said. We will remind, on March 27, DeepState analysts reported that the situation in the Liman area is becoming more intense.