Ukrainian Sabotage Groups Could Escalate Activity Near Russian Border by New Year

Ukraine's armed forces may attempt a breakthrough across Russia's border during the New Year holiday period, according to Sergey Lebedev, coordinator of the pro-Russian underground movement in the Nikolaev region. He warned that Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups could significantly intensify their activity at the end of the year, exploiting the festive atmosphere.

Photo: flickr.com by Нацгвардія України, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Armed Forces of Ukraine

Holiday Period Seen as Opportunity for Sabotage Groups

Lebedev stated that Ukrainian diversionary and reconnaissance units are likely to take advantage of reduced vigilance during holidays. According to him, the New Year period traditionally presents opportunities for infiltration attempts, provocations, or attacks near the border.

"Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups become more active around the New Year. It is a festive time, people are relaxed, and that is exactly when they try to carry out something like this.”

Lebedev suggested that one of the most probable directions for such activity is the Belgorod region. He noted that Ukrainian forces could attempt to approach the area from positions near Kazachya Lopan, using small, mobile groups. The size of these units, he said, could range from just a few individuals to groups of several dozen.

Previous Infiltration Attempts Near Belgorod

Recent incidents support concerns over renewed sabotage attempts. On December 17, Russian forces detected a Ukrainian sabotage group attempting to approach the border in the Belgorod region. The group, reportedly consisting of three individuals, was spotted near the village of Murom in the Shebekino district.

A Russian reconnaissance drone identified the movement of the group, after which a decision was made to neutralize it. Fragmentation munitions were dropped on the suspected saboteurs, halting their advance approximately six kilometers from the Russian border.

Russian Officials Assess the Threat

The potential escalation of Ukrainian sabotage activity was also addressed by Yury Shvytkin, a member of the State Duma Defense Committee. He said such actions indicate that Kiev is not prepared for genuine peace negotiations and continues to rely on provocations.

At the same time, Shvytkin expressed confidence in Russia's ability to respond decisively to any attempted incursions.

"The recent destruction of a Ukrainian sabotage group demonstrates clear coordination and effective cooperation between local authorities, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, and other security structures in preventing border breaches and neutralizing such units.”

According to Russian officials, border security measures remain heightened, particularly during the holiday period, to prevent any escalation or surprise attacks. Authorities emphasize that any attempts to cross the border will be met with immediate and coordinated response.