Alpha Group (Ukraine)

Special Operations Center «A» of the Security Service of Ukraine
Центр спеціальних операцій «А» Служби безпеки України
The badge of SBU Alpha Group
Active	23 June 1994–present
Country	Ukraine (1994–present)
Allegiance	Security Service of Ukraine
Branch	Special Operations Unit of the SBU (1994–present)
Role	Special Operations, Counterterrorism
Size	10,000
Garrison/HQ	Kyiv
Nicknames	Alpha Group, Alpha, Alfa
Motto	«Життя – Батьківщині! Честь ‒ нікому!» («Life to the Motherland! Honor to no one!»)
Engagements	Iraq War[1] Euromaidan War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Antonov Airport Battle of Hostomel Snake Island campaign Battle of Sievierodonetsk Kharkiv counteroffensive Battle of Bakhmut Kursk offensive (2024–2025) Operation Spiderweb [2]
Decorations	For Courage and Bravery
Commanders
Current commander	Yevhenii Khmara[3]

Special Operations Center «А» of the Security Service of Ukraine (Ukrainian: ЦСО "А" СБУ, romanized: CSO "A" SBU ), informally known as Alpha Group, Alpha or Alfa, is one of the most elite Special Operations Unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). It participates in the Russo-Ukrainian war since its beginning in 2014.

The unit's missions primarily involve sniping, 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.

On 23 June 1994, on the orders of the President of Ukraine (then Leonid Kravchuk), Department «А» was created as a part of the Central Office of the Security Service of Ukraine. In the same time, regionals units were formed in all Oblasts, giving start to the formation of Special Counterterrorist units under the command of SBU.^[4]

On July 16, 1996, the first major reform of the unit took place. By decree of the President of Ukraine, Department «A» was renamed the Department for Combating Terrorism and Protecting Participants in Criminal Proceedings and Law Enforcement Officers of the SBU.

On December 27, 2005, a large-scale reform of the SBU's special operations departments took place. As a result of this reorganization, a modern Center for Special Operations to Combat Terrorism, Protect Participants in Criminal Proceedings, and Law Enforcement Officers was created. It was then that the unit received its well-known abbreviation, CSO "A" SBU.^[5]

On July 31, 2000, in the building of the Kyiv disciplinary battalion, two violators of military discipline, Ukrainian army servicemen Oleksandr Stankevych and Mykhailo Nevzorov, attacked a guard, seized an AKM assault rifle with 60 rounds of ammunition, locked 18 people (the guard and their fellow servicemen) and demanded food and alcohol. After six hours of negotiations, a decision was made to storm the building, which was carried out by employees of the Kyiv Alfa unit. As a result of the assault, the criminals were detained.^[6]

Since 2004, the center's fighters have been involved in ensuring the security of the Ukrainian embassy in Baghdad (Iraq). In total, more than 190 SBU employees have been sent on missions over the entire period.

On October 1, 2011, a combat clash between SBU special forces and a local terrorist group took place in Odesa. The day before, the criminals shot two and wounded four law enforcement officers. The armed criminals barricaded themselves in a hotel and resisted attempts by a police special forces unit to storm the building for more than four hours. The turning point came only after the intervention of fighters from the local CSO “A” unit. As a result of the operation, the criminals were neutralized.^[7]

On July 21, 2020, in Lutsk, a man armed with firearms and explosives hijacked a bus with passengers. Operatives from the SBU's Special Operations Center “A” quickly arrived at the scene and began negotiations with the terrorist. Thanks to their professional actions, it was possible to avoid casualties among the hostages and detain the criminal.^[8]

In April 2014, in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity, when Ukraine's Alpha snipers were alleged to shoot at the protesters,^[9][10] it was purged and reorganised,^[11] and deployed to fight against pro-Russian separatist forces in the war in Donbas.

On April 13, 2014, the Joint Forces Operation “A” first engaged in armed conflict with pro-Russian militants near the city of Sloviansk, Donetsk oblast.

Late April 2014 three officers were ambushed by members of the separatist armed groups led by pro-Russian terrorist Igor Girkin in the town of Horlivka, after which they were tortured;^[12] the SBU spokeswoman said the separatists acted on a tip from infiltrators inside the agency.^[13]

As part of the anti-terrorist operation announced on the same day, the center's employees, in cooperation with other units of the Ukrainian security and defense sector, participated in stabilization and assault operations, in particular in the liberation of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Mariupol, and other settlements temporarily occupied by illegal armed groups.

The SBU Alfa defector Alexander Khodakovsky, a former Alfa commander for Donetsk Oblast who had betrayed Ukraine along with several of his men and became the commander of the terrorist Vostok Battalion and later was given the post of security minister of the separatist so-called "Donetsk People's Republic".^[14]

On April 15, 2014, the SBU's Special Operations Center “A” unit, together with the National Guard of Ukraine's “Omega” special unit, took control of the strategically important airfield in Kramatorsk without any losses. This allowed Ukrainian forces to ensure the airlift of personnel, equipment, and logistical support to the ATO zone.

During 2014–2021, SBU Special Operations Forces “A” fighters were systematically involved in combat missions in the area of the anti-terrorist operation and, later, the Joint Forces Operation. The main areas of activity were the neutralization of sabotage groups, the detection and detention of members of illegal armed formations, as well as counter-sabotage and special operations behind enemy lines.

The center's sniper units were deployed along the entire line of demarcation and carried out priority strikes on targets within the framework of interagency tasks coordinated by the ATO/JFO headquarters.

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Alpha group ambushed and destroyed a Russian military convoy in northern Kyiv, around Hostomel, composed of Chechen paramilitary (the "Kadyrovtsy") heading to the city.^[15] 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 strategically crucial settlements such as Kupiansk.^[16]

CSO "A" also participated in the Battle of Bahmut, Batle of Sievierodonetsk, Kursk campaign, Battle of Avdiivka, took part in the Snake Island campaign.^[1]

During Operation Spider's Web, Alfa fighters operated the drones with which they hit at least 41 Russian aircraft, worth more than $7 billion.

Alpha Group is one of the most effective Ukrainian units, they have caused damage to the enemy worth more than $5.5 billion dollars. Per their own claims, every sixth destroyed Russian tank was blown up by Alfa fighters.^[1]

The Alpha Group conducted operations to capture fifth-columnists, Russian sympathizers, spies and infiltrators.^[17]

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.^[18]

The unit suffered its first casualty in June 2014, fighting against pro-Russian separatists Russian special forces, in the war in Donbas. As of 2018, ten SBU Alpha operators lost their lives in the conflict.^[19]

• 
  Alpha group operators in 2017
• 
  Alpha Group operators in 2020
• 
  SBU and Alpha Group personnel arresting organizers of a Pyramid scheme in 2020
• 
  Operators with drone, unknown date.

Name	Image	Country of origin	Type	Caliber	Details
Glock 17		Austria	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum
Heckler & Koch USP		Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum
PSM		Soviet Union	Semi-automatic pistol	5.45×18mm
PB		Soviet Union	Semi-automatic pistol	9×18mm Makarov
Stechkin AP		Soviet Union	Pistol	9×18mm Makarov
SIG MCX		United States	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO .300 AAC Blackout	Used by SBU Alpha SOF.[20]
AKS-74U		Soviet Union	Carbine	5.45×39mm
Fort-500T		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.[21]
Brügger & Thomet MP9		Switzerland	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum	Were bought in 2007 for use by SBU.[22][23]
Heckler & Koch MP5		Germany	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum
FN P90		Belgium	Submachine gun	FN 5.7×28mm	More than 30× P90LV were bought in 2008.[23]
VSS Vintorez		Soviet Union	Sniper rifle	9×39mm	[24]
Sako TRG-22		Finland	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO
Blaser R93 Tactical 2		Germany	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	[25]
SIG Sauer SSG 3000		Germany	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	[26]
Brügger & Thomet APR		Switzerland  Ukraine	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	Made under license by Tactical Systems as the TS.M.308/338.[27]
Desert Tech SRS		United States	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	Were bought in 2016[28]
Desert Tech HTI		United States	Anti-materiel rifle	.50 BMG	Were bought in 2020[29]

• Special Operations Forces (Ukraine)

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