Alpha Group (Ukraine)

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Special Group "Alpha"
Spetshrupa "A"
Alpha SBU emblem.png
The badge of SBU Alfa Group
Active3 March 1990–present
CountryFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union (1990–1991)
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine (1991–present)
Branch Spetsnaz of the KGB
(1990–1991)
Spetsnaz of the SBU
(1991–present)
Type Spetsnaz
SizeClassified
Garrison/HQ Kyiv
Nickname(s)Alpha Group, Alpha (Alfa)
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		Yevhenii Khmara [2]

Special Group "Alpha" is the only tier one spetsnaz unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU); and a successor of the Soviet Union's Alpha Group. [3] Group Alpha is one of the top divisions of the Special forces of Ukraine.

Contents

The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, black operations, counterterrorism, direct action, executive protection, high-value targets capture or elimination, hostage rescue, irregular warfare, long-range penetration, special operations that are high risk and very sensitive, and special reconnaissance.

History

On 28 July 1974, Alpha Group was created on the orders of the KGB Chairman, Yuri Andropov, in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich massacre. It might have been established as a response to West Germany's creation of Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (or GSG 9). [3] By attaching a special-purpose unit to the office of the First Chief Directorate in Moscow (later the Seventh Directorate [4] ), it was hoped that the Soviet Union's defensive capacity against terrorist attacks would increase significantly. At the time, other, more offensive special forces of the KGB included the groups Zenit and Kaskad/Omega. Another important mission for Alpha was to provide security for the Soviet leadership against enemy special forces in times of crisis or war. [5]

Later, territorial Alpha units were established across the Soviet Union. An Alpha detachment in Ukraine was created on March 3, 1990, when the order was given to the Chief of the 7th Directorate of the KGB to establish 10th group (Kyiv) Group 'A' Services EIR 7th Directorate of the KGB. The selection process was rigorous. Of the initial 120 KGB candidates, only 15 passed the rigorous selection course to establish the first detachment under the leadership of commander Peter Feliksovich Zakrevskii. [6]

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union

The Kyiv territorial unit of Group "A" was converted into Service "C" of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in 1992. [6] Nevertheless, it has continued to be informally called "Alpha", until June 23, 1994, when by the decree of the President of Ukraine on the basis of service "C" of the SBU was created Directorate "A" (Alpha). At this point in the SBU's groups "A" consists of five offices and regional offices based in each regional center of Ukraine.

Alpha Group operators after the Battle of Kramatorsk SBU agents in Kramatorsk, April 2014.png
Alpha Group operators after the Battle of Kramatorsk

War in Donbas

In April 2014, in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity, when Ukraine's Alpha snipers were alleged to shoot at the protesters, [7] [8] it was purged and reorganised, [9] and soon used by the new government against the pro-Russian separatist forces in the war in Donbas. Late April 2014 three officers were captured by members of the Donbas People's Militia armed group led by Igor Girkin [a] in the town of Horlivka, after which they were beaten up and shown on Russian television; [10] the SBU spokeswoman said the separatists acted on a tip from infiltrators inside the agency. [11]

The SBU Alfa defector Alexander Khodakovsky, a former Alfa commander for Donetsk Oblast who has deserted from Ukrainian service along with several of his men following the revolution, became the commander of the rebel Vostok Battalion and later was given the post of security minister of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic. [12]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Alpha group (according to Ukrainian sources) ambushed and wiped out a convoy in northern Kyiv, around Hostomel, composed of Chechen paramilitary (the "Kadyrovtsy") heading to the city. [13] The Alpha Group was present in Kharkiv, defending the city at the Battle of Kharkiv. During the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, the Alpha Group re-captured several settlements such as Kupiansk. [1]

The Alpha Group conducted operations to capture fifth-columnists, Russian sympathizers, spies and infiltrators. [14]

Operational record

From its inception in 1994 to 2010, members of the special unit carried out more than 7,000 operations, from weapons seizure to anti narcotics operations, to apprehension of organized gang members, with no casualties sustained. [15]

The unit suffered its first casualty in June 2014, fighting against Russian separatists and possibly, Russian special forces, in the war in Donbas. As of 2018, ten SBU Alpha operators lost their lives in the conflict. [16]

Equipment

NameImageCountry of originTypeCaliberDetails
Glock 17 GLOCK 17 Gen 4 Pistol MOD 45160305.jpg Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum
Heckler & Koch USP First-year H&K USP 9mm (32415150000) modified.png Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum
PSM 5,45x18 pistolet samozariadnyi malogabaritnyi PSM 01.jpg Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Semi-automatic pistol 5.45×18mm
PB PB pistol.jpg Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Semi-automatic pistol 9×18mm Makarov
Stechkin AP Stechkin APS.jpg Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Pistol 9×18mm Makarov
SIG MCX SIG-MCX-Rifle.jpeg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO
.300 AAC Blackout 		Used by SBU Alpha SOF. [17]
AKS-74U Aks74u.png Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Carbine 5.45×39mm
Fort-500T  [ uk ] GUN-FORT-500T.jpg Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Pump action 12 gauge Developed in the late 1990s. It is fitted with the CAA CBS retractable stock. Used by police forces and security service of Ukraine. [18]
Brügger & Thomet MP9 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Were bought in 2007 for use by SBU. [19] [20]
Heckler & Koch MP5 Heckler Koch MP5.jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum
FN P90 FN-P90 noBG.jpg Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Submachine gun FN 5.7×28mm More than 30x P90LV were bought in 2008. [20]
VSS Vintorez Vss vintorez 01.jpeg Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Sniper rifle 9×39mm [21]
Sako TRG-22 Sako TRG-42.jpg Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO
Blaser R93 Tactical 2 Blaser R93 Tactical (7029734883).jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO [22]
SIG Sauer SSG 3000 SIG Sauer SSG 3000.jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO [23]
Brügger & Thomet APR Brugger & Thomet APR338.jpg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 		Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Made under license by Tactical Systems as the TS.M.308/338. [24]
Desert Tech SRS SRS 338 - Side view.jpg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Were bought in 2016 [25]
Desert Tech HTI HTI-Right-Profile.jpg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Anti-materiel rifle .50 BMG Were bought in 2020 [26]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ At the time, Girkin was known by the alias "Igor Strelkov".

References

  1. 1 2 "Ukraine Pushes On With Counteroffensive As Russian Invasion Enters 200th Day". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . 11 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-09-17. Retrieved 2022-09-18. The SBU posted images on Telegram of a group of Ukrainian soldiers with the caption: "Specialists of the SBU's special operations center 'A' in Kupyansk, which was and always will be Ukrainian!"
  2. ↑ "Zelenskyy appoints new chief of Special Operations Forces of Security Service of Ukraine". Ukrainska Pravda . 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 David Cox (2001). Close Protection: The Politics of Guarding Russia's Rulers. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 59. ISBN   978-0-275-96688-1 . Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Early Yeltsin Years". Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) by Jonathan Littell.
  5. ↑ Hackard, Mark (17 April 2015). "KGB Spetsnaz & World War III". Espionage History Archive. Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  6. 1 2 "Международная Ассоциация Ветеранов Подразделений Антитеррора "Альфа"". Alfa.org.ua. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  7. ↑ Jamie Dettmer (30 March 2014). "Exclusive: Photographs Expose Russian-Trained Killers in Kiev". The Daily Beast . Archived from the original on 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  8. ↑ Golitsina, Natalya (3 April 2014). "Photos Link Yanukovych's Troops To Maidan Massacre". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . Archived from the original on 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  9. ↑ "Separatystycznym batalionem Wostok dowodził były dowódca ukraińskiego specnazu" (in Polish). Wiadomosci.gazeta.pl. 2014-07-21. Archived from the original on 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  10. ↑ "Video: Ukrainian intelligence officers detained by pro-Russian separatists". The Telegraph . 2014-04-27. Archived from the original on 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  11. ↑ Grytsenko, Oksana (2014-04-28). "Separatists acted on a tip to capture SBU officers, Ukraine's security service says (VIDEO)". Kyiv Post . Kyivpost.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-03. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  12. ↑ Weiss, Michael (11 July 2014). "All Is Not Well in Novorossiya". Foreign Policy . Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  13. ↑ "The subdivision of the National Guard Forces Command of the Chechen Republic is destroyed near Kiev, commander of the regiment Tushaev is killed - Ministry of Defense of Ukraine". Interfax-Ukraine . 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  14. ↑ "Ukraine cracks down on 'traitors' helping Russian troops". AP NEWS. 2022-04-29. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  15. ↑ ""В Ираке бойцы "Альфы" получают меньше других, а служат дольше"". Archived from the original on 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  16. ↑ "Пам'ятаємо | Альфа". Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  17. ↑ "Спецподразделение "Альфа" и боевые машины: СБУ будет работать в день выборов 2019 – фото и видео". 24 Канал (in Russian). 30 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  18. ↑ "Pump action shotgun "Fort-500T"". www.skopjesos.com.mk. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  19. ↑ "wiw_eu_ukraine - worldinventory". 2016-06-03. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  20. 1 2 "UNODA Occasional Papers No.16: Assessing the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, April 2009". United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Occasional Papers. 2012-06-13. doi:10.18356/fc99a96f-en. ISBN   9789210556835. ISSN   2412-1258. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  21. ↑ "Фотовиставка: "Служу українському народу і спецназу!" :: Товариство учасників бойових дій "Спас-Україна"". Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  22. ↑ "Фотовиставка: "Служу українському народу і спецназу!" :: Товариство учасників бойових дій "Спас-Україна"". www.spas.net.ua. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  23. ↑ "Профессионалы: Украинская «Альфа»: терроризм не пройдет". 2015-09-23. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  24. ↑ "Ukrainian copies of Swiss Brügger & Thomet APR rifles used during protests in Kiev". Armament Research Services (ARES). 2014-02-24. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  25. ↑ "Timeline". deserttech.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  26. ↑ "DESERT TECH - Tomorrow's Weapons". deserttech.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
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