The term DRG (Sabotage and Reconnaissance Group) is gaining wider attention in discussions of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict, and for good reason. These teams represent a form of micro-maneuver warfare that has proven highly effective for Russian forces.
The concept dates back to the Soviet era, when DRGs were developed as small, highly mobile units capable of operating deep behind enemy lines to gather intelligence, conduct sabotage, and create disruption functionally similar to Western special operations forces (e.g., Green Berets, Navy SEALs, SAS).
Military historian David M. Glantz examined this doctrine in detail in his 1989 study The Fundamentals of Soviet Razvedka (Intelligence/Reconnaissance), which remains an excellent reference for understanding how DRGs evolved into their modern form.
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOVIET RAZVEDKA (INTELLIGENCE/RECONNAISSANCE) 1989