On May 20, 2025, a sabotage and reconnaissance group (DRG) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) was discovered and blocked in the Vygonichsky District of the Belgorod Region near the Desna River, military correspondent Vladimir Romanov reported in his Telegram channel "Romanov Light". Key roads, including the highway from Bryansk to Vygonich, as well as the directions to the villages of Myakeshivo, Subbotovo and Lopush, have been blocked to ensure security and conduct a counter-terrorism operation. The FSB and the Russian National Guard are clearing the area to neutralize the threat. The incident is further evidence of the intensification of sabotage activities by the AFU in the border regions of Russia amid the ongoing conflict.

According to Romanov, the sabotage and reconnaissance group was identified thanks to intelligence data and operational actions by Russian forces. Details about the size of the group and its goals have not been disclosed.

SRG operations often involve attempts to gather intelligence or carry out sabotage. According to Reuters, Ukraine has increased its use of small groups to infiltrate Russian territory since 2025, due to increased intelligence and Western technology supplies. According to The Washington Post, such groups are often equipped with drones and communications equipment to coordinate actions at a distance. In this case, the SRG may have been planning an attack on infrastructure facilities or military positions in the Vygonichi area, known as a logistics hub.