Alpha Group
Encyclopedia
The Alpha Group is an elite component of Russia's Spetsnaz
as well as the dedicated counter-terrorism
unit of the Federal Security Service (FSB). The military heritage of the Spetsnaz combined with the FSB's focus on hostage rescue and counter-terrorism makes the characteristics of Alpha Group comparable to many other special forces units across the world. Examples include the German Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK), the United Kingdom's Special Air Service (SAS)
, and the US Navy's SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU).
) are not uncommon. Although little is known about the exact nature of Alpha Group's primary directives, it is speculated that the unit is authorized to act under the direct control and sanction of Russia's political leadership. If this be the case, the group would be similar in practice to the "B" Directorate's secretive Vympel
unit, and would strongly imply that Alpha Group is at once available for expanded police duties, essentially paramilitary
applications, and/or additional covert military operations.
, emergency medical staff
, expert demolition technicians, dedicated intelligence gathering services, and various other functions that are typical of both civilian SWAT teams
and the special operations
community in general. Currently, however, it is unknown whether Alpha Group maintains any hostage negotiators.
Alpha Group has also shown a willingness to utilize chemical agents, such as during the 2002 Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis
, and attests to the ability of their operatives to function in environments contaminated by hazardous materials.
, then Chairman of the KGB
, Group A, or "Alfa Group," was created on 28 July, 1974 in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics
. By attaching a Spetsnaz
unit to the office of the First Chief Directorate
, it was hoped that the Soviet Union's defensive capacity against terrorist attack would increase significantly. Initially, this special-purposed counter-terrorism
unit was involved in delicate operations that necessitated its members' unique skill set, such as the 1983 hijacking of Aeroflot Flight 6833. Soon, however, this newly constituted task force was assigned missions that far exceeded its traditional scope, including the 1985 arrest of CIA spy Adolf Tolkachev
.
Arguably, the group's most notable mission during the Soviet period
occurred on 27 December, 1979, when Soviet forces launched a surprise attack on the home of Hafizullah Amin
, President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
, at Tajbeg Palace
. Given the operational name Storm-333
and involving a combination of Spetsnaz, GRU
, KGB
, and Soviet paratroopers were a total of 24 men from the the «Гром» ("Thunder") detachment of Alpha Group. According to Russian sources the members of this special-purposed and highly-trained unit performed remarkably well and lost only two men; the lightest casualties of all forces involved in the raid. The operation itself was also a decisive strategic victory, as Soviet forces were able to secure important governmental institutions such as Ministry of the Interior, the headquarters of the Government Information Agency (KHAD)
, Darul Aman Palace
, and successfully eliminated President Amin. However, the success of Storm-333 also marked the beginning of the Soviet War in Afghanistan
, and subsequently, Alpha Group's extensive involvement throughout the it.
Almost six year later, in October 1985, Alpha Group would be dispatched to Beirut, Lebanon after the Kremlin was informed that four Soviet diplomats had been taken hostage by a Sunni
extremist group
. By the time Alpha was on-site, word had spread that one of the hostages had already been killed. Through a network of supporting KGB operatives, members of the task-force were able successfully identify each of the perpetrators involved in the crisis, and once discovered, began to take the individual relatives of the extremists hostage. Following the standard Soviet policy of "no negotiation with terrorists," the hostages belonging to Alpha Group had some of their body parts cut off and sent directly to the Sunni militants. The warning was quite clear: more would follow unless the remaining hostages were released immediately. The show of force worked, and for a period of twenty years no Soviet or Russian officials were taken captive until the 2006 abduction and murder of four Russian embassy staff members in Iraq. However, the veracity of this story is open to debate. Russian journalist Vyzcheslav Lashkul has denied Alpha Group's involvement in the practice of torture, and instead claims that the release of the Soviet hostages was the result of extensive diplomatic negotiations with the alleged backer of the hostage-takers, Hezbollah spiritual leader Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah.
On March 11, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR
made public its intent to secede from the Soviet Union and re-establish the independent Republic of Lithuania
. As a result of this pronouncement, on 9 January, 1991, the Soviet Union dispatched the Alpha Group to quell the nationalist uprising and maintain Lithuania's status as a satellite state. However, this dilatory and misguided attempt to re-establish Soviet dominance culminated in the bloody seizure of the State Radio and Television Building as well as the Vilnius TV Tower
on 13 January, 1991
. The resulting violence injured an estimated 1,000 Lithuanian civilians, killing at least fourteen of them, and also caused the death of one operative from Alpha Group.
was, by the oral command of KGB Chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov
, tasked with forcibly entering the White House
, Russia's acting parliament at the time, after a planned assault on the entrance by paratroopers, in order to kill Boris Yeltsin
and various other leaders assembled there. In addition to Alpha Group, General Karpukhin was also given authority of Vega Group (Vympel)
, elements of the Soviet Airborne, internal security units of the Dzerzhinsky Division (OMSDON), mobilized units of the Moscow OMON
, three tank companies, and a squadron of helicopters. On-site analysis of the area was conducted by General Karapuhkin, Airborne deputy commander General Alexander Lebed, and other senior officers who mingled with the crowds nearest to the White House. There seems to be a general consensus among the military officials who gathered that day, as evidenced by their statements some months after the botched coup attempt, that had they followed through on their endeavor it would have succeeded. The stated mission objectives could have been reached in no more than half-an-hour, but it would have come at a terrible human cost. Shortly after their assessment was made, General Karpukhin and Colonel Beskov, the commanders of Alpha and Vega Groups respectively, tried to convince KGB General Ageyev that such a massive undertaking should be cancelled, as it would result in unnecessary loss-of-life.
. The KGB wished to use the organization in its hardline campaign against Mikhail Gorbachev
in 1991, and the first elected President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin
, was also guilty of using it to shell the the White House in Moscow during the constitutional crisis of 1993. Following the crisis, both Alpha Group and Vega Group (Vympel) were briefly put under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).
Today, Alpha Group is still utilized by the government of the Russian Federation in its official capacity as a dedicated counter-terrorism unit. However, several highly controversial actions in the recent past have somewhat tarnished Alpha Group's image both at home and abroad, making the organization especially susceptible to criticism when the issue revolves around its technical competency. Examples of this include the employment of an unknown chemical agent to assist Alpha Group operators end the Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis
in 2002, resulting in the deaths of an additional 129 hostages, yet was hailed by members of the organization as "our first successful operation for years." The events of 2004's Beslan school hostage crisis
further called into question the competency of the unit, as the group's apparent ineffectiveness to take command of the situation seemed to be one of the main factors that contributed to such an incredible amount of civilian casualties. The Beslan school hostage crisis also stands on record for contributing to Alpha Group's highest number of official losses in operational history.
Since 1995, Alpha Group has also come under scrutiny for its involvement in both the First Chechen War
between 1994-96, as well as the Second Chechen War
between 1999-2009.
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
as well as the dedicated counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
unit of the Federal Security Service (FSB). The military heritage of the Spetsnaz combined with the FSB's focus on hostage rescue and counter-terrorism makes the characteristics of Alpha Group comparable to many other special forces units across the world. Examples include the German Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK), the United Kingdom's Special Air Service (SAS)
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
, and the US Navy's SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU).
Function
The group is organized under the "A" Directorate of the FSB Special Operations Center (TsSN FSB), and tasked specifically with responding, preventing, and thwarting acts of terrorism. Alpha Group members are frequently requested by other sections of the FSB to provide operational assistance with situations that are either unique or highly complex in nature. Regional deployments to conflict-prone areas (such as ChechnyaChechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
) are not uncommon. Although little is known about the exact nature of Alpha Group's primary directives, it is speculated that the unit is authorized to act under the direct control and sanction of Russia's political leadership. If this be the case, the group would be similar in practice to the "B" Directorate's secretive Vympel
Vympel
Vympel , also known as KGB Directorate "B" ,Vega Group or Spetsgruppa V, Group B is a Russian special forces unit....
unit, and would strongly imply that Alpha Group is at once available for expanded police duties, essentially paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
applications, and/or additional covert military operations.
Training and equipment
The selection and training process for members of Alpha Group is limited to the public, but the unit is assumed to have access to small arms from foreign and domestic suppliers, and possess long-range marksmenSniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
, emergency medical staff
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
, expert demolition technicians, dedicated intelligence gathering services, and various other functions that are typical of both civilian SWAT teams
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
and the special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
community in general. Currently, however, it is unknown whether Alpha Group maintains any hostage negotiators.
Alpha Group has also shown a willingness to utilize chemical agents, such as during the 2002 Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis
Moscow theater hostage crisis
The Moscow theater hostage crisis, also known as the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater on 23 October 2002 by some 40 to 50 armed Chechens who claimed allegiance to the Islamist militant separatist movement in Chechnya. They took 850 hostages and demanded the...
, and attests to the ability of their operatives to function in environments contaminated by hazardous materials.
Soviet Union
On the orders of Yuri AndropovYuri Andropov
Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov was a Soviet politician and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 12 November 1982 until his death fifteen months later.-Early life:...
, then Chairman of the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
, Group A, or "Alfa Group," was created on 28 July, 1974 in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
. By attaching a Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
unit to the office of the First Chief Directorate
First Chief Directorate
The First Chief Directorate , of the Committee for State Security , was the organization responsible for foreign operations and intelligence collection activities by the training and management of the covert agents, intelligence collection management, and the collection of political, scientific and...
, it was hoped that the Soviet Union's defensive capacity against terrorist attack would increase significantly. Initially, this special-purposed counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
unit was involved in delicate operations that necessitated its members' unique skill set, such as the 1983 hijacking of Aeroflot Flight 6833. Soon, however, this newly constituted task force was assigned missions that far exceeded its traditional scope, including the 1985 arrest of CIA spy Adolf Tolkachev
Adolf Tolkachev
Adolf Georgievich Tolkachev Адольф Георгиевич Толкачёв was a Soviet Union electronics engineer who provided key documents to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency over the years between 1979 and 1985...
.
Arguably, the group's most notable mission during the Soviet period
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occurred on 27 December, 1979, when Soviet forces launched a surprise attack on the home of Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin was the second President of Afghanistan during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan....
, President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
, at Tajbeg Palace
Tajbeg Palace
Tajbeg Palace or Tapa-e-Tajbeg Palace is a Palace built in the 1920s and located about ten miles outside of the center of Kabul, Afghanistan. The stately mansion sits atop a knoll among foothills where the Afghan royal family once hunted and picnicked...
. Given the operational name Storm-333
Operation Storm-333
Operation Storm-333 was the codename of the Soviet special forces operation on December 27, 1979 in which Soviet special forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace in Afghanistan and killed President Hafizullah Amin and his 200 personal guards...
and involving a combination of Spetsnaz, GRU
GRU
GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye is the foreign military intelligence directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation...
, KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
, and Soviet paratroopers were a total of 24 men from the the «Гром» ("Thunder") detachment of Alpha Group. According to Russian sources the members of this special-purposed and highly-trained unit performed remarkably well and lost only two men; the lightest casualties of all forces involved in the raid. The operation itself was also a decisive strategic victory, as Soviet forces were able to secure important governmental institutions such as Ministry of the Interior, the headquarters of the Government Information Agency (KHAD)
KHAD
Khadamat-e Etela'at-e Dawlati translates directly to English as: "Government Information Agency". However, this phrase is more correctly translated as Government Intelligence Service...
, Darul Aman Palace
Darul Aman Palace
Darul Aman Palace is a European-style palace, now ruined, located about sixteen kilometers outside of the center of Kabul, Afghanistan....
, and successfully eliminated President Amin. However, the success of Storm-333 also marked the beginning of the Soviet War in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
, and subsequently, Alpha Group's extensive involvement throughout the it.
Almost six year later, in October 1985, Alpha Group would be dispatched to Beirut, Lebanon after the Kremlin was informed that four Soviet diplomats had been taken hostage by a Sunni
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
extremist group
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
. By the time Alpha was on-site, word had spread that one of the hostages had already been killed. Through a network of supporting KGB operatives, members of the task-force were able successfully identify each of the perpetrators involved in the crisis, and once discovered, began to take the individual relatives of the extremists hostage. Following the standard Soviet policy of "no negotiation with terrorists," the hostages belonging to Alpha Group had some of their body parts cut off and sent directly to the Sunni militants. The warning was quite clear: more would follow unless the remaining hostages were released immediately. The show of force worked, and for a period of twenty years no Soviet or Russian officials were taken captive until the 2006 abduction and murder of four Russian embassy staff members in Iraq. However, the veracity of this story is open to debate. Russian journalist Vyzcheslav Lashkul has denied Alpha Group's involvement in the practice of torture, and instead claims that the release of the Soviet hostages was the result of extensive diplomatic negotiations with the alleged backer of the hostage-takers, Hezbollah spiritual leader Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah.
On March 11, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR
Lithuanian SSR
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
made public its intent to secede from the Soviet Union and re-establish the independent Republic of Lithuania
Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of March 11 was an independence declaration by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on March 11, 1990...
. As a result of this pronouncement, on 9 January, 1991, the Soviet Union dispatched the Alpha Group to quell the nationalist uprising and maintain Lithuania's status as a satellite state. However, this dilatory and misguided attempt to re-establish Soviet dominance culminated in the bloody seizure of the State Radio and Television Building as well as the Vilnius TV Tower
Vilnius TV Tower
The Vilnius TV Tower is a tower in the Karoliniškės microdistrict of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the tallest structure in Lithuania, and is occupied by the SC Lithuanian Radio and Television Centre ....
on 13 January, 1991
January Events
The January Events took place in Lithuania between January 11 and 13, 1991 in the aftermath of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. As a result of Soviet military actions, 14 civilians were killed and more than 1000 injured...
. The resulting violence injured an estimated 1,000 Lithuanian civilians, killing at least fourteen of them, and also caused the death of one operative from Alpha Group.
1991 Soviet Coup Attempt
On 20 August, during the events of the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, Major General Viktor Karpukhin, Alpha Group's commanding officer and decorated Hero of the Soviet UnionHero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
was, by the oral command of KGB Chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov
Vladimir Kryuchkov
Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov was a former Soviet politician and Communist Party member, having been in the organization from 1944 until he was dismissed in 1991...
, tasked with forcibly entering the White House
White House, Moscow
The White House , also known as the Russian White House, is a government building in Moscow. It stands on Krasnopresnenskaya embankment. Construction started in 1965 and ended in 1981. Originally called The House of Soviets, it was designed by the architects Dmitry Chechulin and P. Shteller...
, Russia's acting parliament at the time, after a planned assault on the entrance by paratroopers, in order to kill Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
and various other leaders assembled there. In addition to Alpha Group, General Karpukhin was also given authority of Vega Group (Vympel)
Vympel
Vympel , also known as KGB Directorate "B" ,Vega Group or Spetsgruppa V, Group B is a Russian special forces unit....
, elements of the Soviet Airborne, internal security units of the Dzerzhinsky Division (OMSDON), mobilized units of the Moscow OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
, three tank companies, and a squadron of helicopters. On-site analysis of the area was conducted by General Karapuhkin, Airborne deputy commander General Alexander Lebed, and other senior officers who mingled with the crowds nearest to the White House. There seems to be a general consensus among the military officials who gathered that day, as evidenced by their statements some months after the botched coup attempt, that had they followed through on their endeavor it would have succeeded. The stated mission objectives could have been reached in no more than half-an-hour, but it would have come at a terrible human cost. Shortly after their assessment was made, General Karpukhin and Colonel Beskov, the commanders of Alpha and Vega Groups respectively, tried to convince KGB General Ageyev that such a massive undertaking should be cancelled, as it would result in unnecessary loss-of-life.
Russian Federation
According to some Russian military sources, Alpha Group was "degraded" and demoralized by the political manipulation it suffered in the vicious political battles that surrounded the eventual dissolution and collapse of the Soviet UnionDissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
. The KGB wished to use the organization in its hardline campaign against Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
in 1991, and the first elected President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
, was also guilty of using it to shell the the White House in Moscow during the constitutional crisis of 1993. Following the crisis, both Alpha Group and Vega Group (Vympel) were briefly put under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).
Today, Alpha Group is still utilized by the government of the Russian Federation in its official capacity as a dedicated counter-terrorism unit. However, several highly controversial actions in the recent past have somewhat tarnished Alpha Group's image both at home and abroad, making the organization especially susceptible to criticism when the issue revolves around its technical competency. Examples of this include the employment of an unknown chemical agent to assist Alpha Group operators end the Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis
Moscow theater hostage crisis
The Moscow theater hostage crisis, also known as the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater on 23 October 2002 by some 40 to 50 armed Chechens who claimed allegiance to the Islamist militant separatist movement in Chechnya. They took 850 hostages and demanded the...
in 2002, resulting in the deaths of an additional 129 hostages, yet was hailed by members of the organization as "our first successful operation for years." The events of 2004's Beslan school hostage crisis
Beslan school hostage crisis
The Beslan school hostage crisis of early September 2004 was a three-day hostage-taking of over 1,100 people which ended in the deaths of over 380...
further called into question the competency of the unit, as the group's apparent ineffectiveness to take command of the situation seemed to be one of the main factors that contributed to such an incredible amount of civilian casualties. The Beslan school hostage crisis also stands on record for contributing to Alpha Group's highest number of official losses in operational history.
Since 1995, Alpha Group has also come under scrutiny for its involvement in both the First Chechen War
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
between 1994-96, as well as the Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
between 1999-2009.
Use in popular culture
- The political-simulation video game Republic: The RevolutionRepublic: The RevolutionRepublic: The Revolution is a computer game produced by Elixir Studios, founded by Demis Hassabis, a former programmer of Lionhead Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. It is a depiction of grassroots political action, where one attempts to put their preferred government in power. It is set...
features the Alpha Squad, first as an action taken by the corrupt President of Novistrana against the "Democracy Now" party, and then against his most dangerous enemies. Later in the game, it becomes an action that can be used by the player's character, as long as his level is high enough. Alpha Squad members dress entirely in black, and wear gas masks. They also carry weapons. - In the 2010 film Predators by Nimrod AntalNimród AntalNimród E. Antal is a Hungarian American film director, screenwriter and actor.-Life and career:...
, Oleg TaktarovOleg TaktarovOleg Nikolaevich Taktarov is a retired Russian mixed martial artist and actor. He is a practitioner of Sambo and Judo and has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships. Taktarov was the UFC 6 tournament champion and holds notable wins over Marco Ruas and David...
portrays Nikolai Sarov, a commando from the Spetsnaz Alpha Group who was fighting in the Second Chechen WarSecond Chechen WarThe Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
before finding himself on the alien planet. - A game called ALFA: AntiterrorAlfa: AntiterrorAlfa: Antiterror - video game in the genre of strategy developed by MiST Land SOUTH and published by GFI/Russobit-M in Russia on 20 January 2005. Same year the North American company Strategy First published the game too.The player should guide the actions of the detachment of an elite squad...
was developed by Russian game developer MiST Land SouthMiST Land SouthGFI Russia is a Russian video game developer. It was founded in 1996 as MiST Land South by a group of friends and located in Zelenograd, Moscow...
in 2005. - A character named Sergei was included in Andy McNabAndy McNabSergeant ‘Andy McNab’ DCM MM is the pseudonym of an English novelist and former SAS operative and soldier.McNab came into public prominence in 1993, when he published his account of the failed Special Air Service patrol, Bravo Two Zero for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in...
's novel FirewallFirewall (Andy McNab novel)Firewall is a novel written by the ex-SAS member turned author Andy McNab. Released in 2000 it is the third book written about the fictional character Nick Stone.- Synopsis :...
, who was mentioned as being a former member of Alpha Force.
See also
- SpetsnazSpetsnazSpetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
- VympelVympelVympel , also known as KGB Directorate "B" ,Vega Group or Spetsgruppa V, Group B is a Russian special forces unit....
- RusRus (special forces)Rus was a special forces unit of the Interior Troops , of the interior ministry of the Russian Federation. It was a unit in the Independent Operative Purpose Division .Rus was created on August 1, 1994...
- VityazVityaz (MVD)Vityaz was a Russian Spetsnaz unit of the MVD, a unit in the Independent Operative Purpose Division of the Internal Troops.Vityaz was assigned specifically to counter-terrorism duties. Vityaz unit regularly conducts counter-terrorism patrols in Chechnya and along the Caucasus border...
- Spetsnaz GRUSpetsnaz GRUThe Spetsnaz GRU, or Russian army special forces, are the original Spetsnaz and are generally considered the best trained and experienced units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as evidenced by both their seniority among the Special Forces and their...