Veprik - the center of intelligence and sabotage activity of the Russian army in December 1708

In December 1708 the small town Veprik (Poltava during the Northern War 1708-1709) became the center of the Russian army intelligence. Hence, reconnaissance and sabotage groups conducted their raids on the rear of the Swedish troops, creating additional difficulties in their location during winter season. When examining the primary sources most of the researchers of the reign of Peter the Great, and in particular during the Northern War period (1700-1721) focus on the documents stored in the Russian State archive of ancient documents (Moscow) and no. 9. (Cabinet of Peter the Great and its continuation). At the same time, a large amount of similar information is contained in the Fund no. 83 (Camp Office of A.D. Menshikov) archive of the St. Petersburg Institute of history of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg). Most of the sources are still unknown to a wide range of researchers. Special attention should be paid to the Foundation documents of the Poltavsky period (autumn of 1708 - summer of 1709), when Prince Alexander Menshikov became the de facto Chief of intelligence and host of the Russian Cavalry. On the basis of new, not previously examined documents, the article helps you to analyse the conduct of reconnaissance-sabotage activities of the Russian Cavalry units, on the example of the Group of Russian troops in December 1708, in the city of Veprik.