Alpha Group (Ukraine) Explained

Unit Name:Special Group "Alpha"
Native Name:Spetshrupa "A"
Dates:3 March 1990–present
Country: (1990–1991)
Ukraine (1991–present)
Branch:Spetsnaz of the KGB
(1990–1991)
Spetsnaz of the SBU
(1991–present)
Type:Special forces
Role:Special operations
Direct Action
Hostage Rescue
Special Reconnaissance
Military Intelligence
Size:Classified
Garrison:Kyiv
Nickname:Alpha Group, Alpha (Alfa)
Battles:
Commander1:Yevhenii Khmara[1]

Special Group "Alpha" is an elite Ukrainian special forces, branch of the Security Service of Ukraine; and a successor of the Soviet Union's Alpha Group. Group Alpha is one of the top divisions of the special forces of Ukraine.

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).[2] By attaching a special-purpose unit to the office of the First Chief Directorate in Moscow (later the Seventh Directorate[3]), 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.[4]

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.[5]

After dissolution of Soviet Union

The Kyiv territorial unit of Group "A" was converted into Service "C" of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in 1992.[5] 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.

2014 Ukrainian crisis

In April 2014, in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity, when Ukraine's Alpha snipers were alleged to shoot at the protesters,[6] [7] it was purged and reorganised,[8] 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 in the town of Horlivka, after which they were beaten up and shown on Russian television;[9] the SBU spokeswoman said the separatists acted on a tip from infiltrators inside the agency.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

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 17Semi-automatic pistol9x19mm Parabellum
Heckler & Koch USPSemi-automatic pistol9x19mm Parabellum
PSMSemi-automatic pistol5x45x18mm
PBSemi-automatic pistol9x18mm Makarov
Stechkin APPistol9x18mm Makarov
-SIG Sauer MCXAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO
Used by SBU Alpha SOF.[17]
AKS-74UCarbine5.45x39mm
12 gaugeDeveloped in the late 1990s. It is fitted with the CAA CBS retractable stock. Used by police forces and security service of Ukraine.[18]
B&T MP9Submachine gun9×19mm ParabellumWere bought in 2007 for use by SBU.[19] [20]
H&K MP5Submachine gun9×19mm Parabellum
More than 30x P90LV were bought in 2008.
VSS VintorezSubmachine gun9×39mm[21]
Sako TRG-22sniper rifle7.62x51mm NATO
Blaser R93 Tactical 2sniper rifle7.62x51mm NATO[22]
SIG Sauer SSG3000sniper rifle7.62x51mm NATO[23]
Brugger & Thomet APRsniper rifle7.62x51mm NATOMade under license by Tactical Systems as the TS.M.308/338.[24]
Desert Tech SRSsniper rifle7.62x51mm NATOWere bought in 2016[25]
Desert Tech HTIanti-material rifle.50 BMGWere bought in 2020[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zelenskyy appoints new chief of Special Operations Forces of Security Service of Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda. 14 April 2023. 14 April 2023.
  2. Book: David Cox. Close Protection: The Politics of Guarding Russia's Rulers. 19 February 2013. 2001. Greenwood Publishing Group. 978-0-275-96688-1. 59.
  3. Web site: The Early Yeltsin Years . 2008-02-01 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20080201083223/http://www.psan.org/document518.html . 1 February 2008 . dmy . by Jonathan Littell.
  4. Web site: KGB Spetsnaz & World War III. Espionage History Archive. 2015-08-24. Mark. Hackard. 17 April 2015. Mark Hackard. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020083946/https://espionagehistoryarchive.com/2015/04/17/kgb-spetsnaz-world-war-iii/. live.
  5. Web site: Международная Ассоциация Ветеранов Подразделений Антитеррора "Альфа" . Alfa.org.ua . 3 March 2014 . 6 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140606191114/http://alfa.org.ua/?r=history . live .
  6. News: Jamie Dettmer . 30 March 2014 . Exclusive: Photographs Expose Russian-Trained Killers in Kiev . . 2014-07-25 . 2014-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140404203229/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/30/exclusive-photographs-expose-russian-trained-killers-in-kiev.html . live .
  7. News: Golitsina . Natalya . 3 April 2014 . Photos Link Yanukovych's Troops To Maidan Massacre . . 2014-07-25 . 2014-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140724200148/http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-snipers-sbu-photos-video/25318776.html . live .
  8. Web site: Separatystycznym batalionem Wostok dowodził były dowódca ukraińskiego specnazu . pl . Wiadomosci.gazeta.pl . 2014-07-21 . 2014-07-25 . 2014-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140724213849/http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,114871,16354946,Separatystycznym_batalionem_Wostok_dowodzil_byly_dowodca.html . live .
  9. Web site: 2014-04-27 . Video: Ukrainian intelligence officers detained by pro-Russian separatists . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140427200554/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10791091/Ukrainian-intelligence-officers-detained-by-pro-Russian-separatists.html . 2014-04-27 . 2014-05-04 . The Telegraph.
  10. Web site: Grytsenko . Oksana . 2014-04-28 . Separatists acted on a tip to capture SBU officers, Ukraine's security service says (VIDEO) . 2014-05-04 . . Kyivpost.com . 2014-05-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140503235218/https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/separatists-acted-on-a-tip-to-capture-sbu-officers-video-345439.html . live .
  11. Web site: Weiss . Michael . 11 July 2014 . All Is Not Well in Novorossiya . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715132409/https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/07/11/all_is_not_well_in_novorossiya_ukraine_strelkov_putin_donetsk . 15 July 2014 . 2014-07-25 . Foreign Policy.
  12. Web site: 27 February 2022 . 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 . 2022-02-28 . . en . 2022-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220226225636/https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/802950.html . live .
  13. News: 11 September 2022 . Ukraine Pushes On With Counteroffensive As Russian Invasion Enters 200th Day . . 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!" . 2022-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220917235028/https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-announces-withdrawal-kharkiv-ukraine/32026977.html . live .
  14. Web site: 2022-04-29 . Ukraine cracks down on 'traitors' helping Russian troops . 2022-05-13 . AP NEWS . en . 2022-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513063653/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-europe-kharkiv-51c514b6dc9cc1f935e018e4877222cc . live .
  15. Web site: "В Ираке бойцы "Альфы" получают меньше других, а служат дольше". 2019-03-09. 2020-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20201221172428/https://kp.ua/life/210905-v-yrake-boitsy-alfy-poluchauit-menshe-druhykh-a-sluzhat-dolshe. live.
  16. Web site: Пам'ятаємо | Альфа. 2019-03-09. 2021-04-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20210411153918/http://www.alfa.org.ua/ua/worthy. live.
  17. Web site: Спецподразделение "Альфа" и боевые машины: СБУ будет работать в день выборов 2019 – фото и видео . 2022-05-19 . 24 Канал . 30 March 2019 . ru . 2022-05-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519141811/https://24tv.ua/ru/specpodrazdelenie_alfa_i_boevye_mashiny_sbu_budet_rabotat_v_den_vyborov_2019__foto_i_video_n1134474 . live .
  18. Web site: Pump action shotgun "Fort-500T" . 2022-05-23 . www.skopjesos.com.mk . 2022-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531031238/https://www.skopjesos.com.mk/mk/proizvodi/Fort-500T.html . live .
  19. Web site: 2016-06-03 . wiw_eu_ukraine - worldinventory . 2022-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160603070951/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_eu_ukraine . 3 June 2016 . dead.
  20. 2012-06-13 . UNODA Occasional Papers No.16: Assessing the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, April 2009 . United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Occasional Papers . 10.18356/fc99a96f-en . 9789210556835 . 2412-1258 . 2022-06-18 . 2023-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223220923/https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210556835 . live .
  21. Web site: Фотовиставка: "Служу українському народу і спецназу!" :: Товариство учасників бойових дій "Спас-Україна" . 2022-07-02 . 2022-06-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630225127/http://www.spas.net.ua/index.php/news/full/752 . live .
  22. Web site: Фотовиставка: "Служу українському народу і спецназу!" :: Товариство учасників бойових дій "Спас-Україна" . 2022-07-09 . www.spas.net.ua . 2022-06-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630225127/http://www.spas.net.ua/index.php/news/full/752 . live .
  23. Web site: 2015-09-23 . Профессионалы: Украинская «Альфа»: терроризм не пройдет. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923220836/http://www.bratishka.ru/archiv/2009/6/2009_6_7.php . 2015-09-23 . 2022-07-09 .
  24. Web site: 2014-02-24 . Ukrainian copies of Swiss Brügger & Thomet APR rifles used during protests in Kiev . Armament Research Services (ARES) . 2022-07-09 . en-GB . 2022-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523074034/https://armamentresearch.com/ukrainian-copies-of-swiss-brugger-thomet-apr-rifles-used-during-protests-in-kiev/ . live .
  25. Web site: Timeline . 2022-07-09 . deserttech.com . 2019-08-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190830201318/https://deserttech.com/timeline.php . live .
  26. Web site: DESERT TECH - Tomorrow's Weapons . 2022-07-09 . deserttech.com . 2022-07-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707074847/https://deserttech.com/contract-hti.php . live .

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