Another 01/03/20 public domainГруппа “A”: the most famous operations of the legendary KGB spetsnaz
the KGB is one of the most secret structures of Soviet Union. Obviously, still not all the secrets of the KGB revealed. This creates a huge scope for all sorts of speculations and fantasies. KGB attributed to cooperation with mages, experiments on humans and contact with aliens. Gradually, however, in the history of the KGB there are fewer white spots, and the public know the real secrets the main secret services of the USSR.
One of the most secret structures of the KGB for a long time remained the group “A” (they later division “alpha”). It was created 29 July 1974 on the orders of the KGB Chairman Yuri Andropov.
Specialists of the group “A” was used to combat terrorism, organized crime and spies, and also for the release of the hostages. In addition, the group “A” often provided security of the first persons in foreign travel.
the Impetus to create group events on the Olympic games of 1972 in Munich, when eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team were shot by Palestinian terrorists. Then the Soviet leadership had decided on the preparation of special units, able to withstand such threats.
Each candidate in group “A” passed the most severe selection. Were KGB officers with outstanding achievements in sports. Moreover, it was considered not only “soldiers” (boxers and wrestlers), but also athletes, skaters, skiers, swimmers. Of course, a big plus were the achievements in the shooting.
For the “alpha” was developed special equipment. In an interview with a former employee of the group, Nikolay Kalitkin said that in her Arsenal included such developments as noiseless grenade launcher, cases with built-in firearms, knives, pistols, and flashlights, are equipped with a Taser.
the Seizure of Amin’s Palace
One of the most famous operations in attended alpha, was on 27 December 1979. It was the first operation of “alpha” under the leadership of the new head of the group – Viktor Fyodorovich Karpukhin. Fighters of group “A” together with units of the Soviet Army carried out the seizure of the residence “Taj Beck” in Kabul (Afghanistan), also known as the Palace of Amin. During the RAID, was assassinated Afghan President Hafizullah Amin. The elimination of Amin led to the subsequent Soviet invasion of the country.
the seizure of the school in Sarapul
Group “A” earned fame as the world’s best unit to combat terrorism. “Alpha” has a great experience of liberation of the hostages.
In December 1981, two armed deserter captured 25 tenth graders in the town of Sarapul (Udmurt Republic). As it turned out in the course of negotiations, the terrorists are not very well thought out their plan: they demanded money and relegation in the United States. Employees of “alpha” as officials of the foreign Ministry and asked to come to school to give to the invaders questionnaires for departure abroad. Deserters had admitted a riot and were immediately detained. The hostages were not injured.
the Capture of the detention center in Sukhumi
In August 1990, the employees of “alpha” was required to resolve unusual situations. In Sukhumi (Abkhazia) 75 inmates seized prison. The situation was complicated by the fact that, in connection with the campaign to confiscate illegal weapons in the Republic, in the detention center were three thousand pieces of various “firearms”. These rifles took possession of the prisoners. They demanded money, helicopters and free flight from Sukhumi.
the Invaders were provided with a bus so they can get to Lenin square in the city centre, where they waited for the helicopter. However, the bus was initially mined by the special explosives to stun the terrorists. After activation of the explosive device started a fire, which injured two employees of the special forces and killed three prisoners. Soon after, the remaining members of the rebellion also surrendered.
the capture of the White home
20 Aug 1991 in front of the soldiers of group “A” got a serious moral dilemma – the KGB ordered them to capture the White house and arrest the leadership of the Russian Federation, including Boris Yeltsin. To implement the order under the control of the commander of group “A” Karpukhina was transferred to the “Vympel” and interior Ministry units. However, assessing the situation, Karpukhin came to the conclusion that during the operation, will inevitably suffer a lot of civilians. Then he gathered the group of fighters and set before them their views. After some discussion, the group refused to storm the White house.
This decision cost Karpuhina the post of head of “alpha”. On 23 August, 1991, he was dismissed. In the same year he took the post of head of the security Service of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. In 1993 he opened a private detective company. Karpukhin died from coronary heart disease in the night from 23 to 24 March 2003.
After the Soviet Union
After the collapse of the Soviet Union several groups of division “alpha”, whose composition has already exceeded a few hundred people, went to Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. They have formed local unit of special forces.
the Russian division “the alpha” first came under the leadership of the FSO, then, since 1996, joined the anti-terrorist centre of the FSB.
Artem Dobrovolsky
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© Russian Seven
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