Issue 3 (92)

THE “ALPHA” SPECIAL UNIT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IN THE USSR (1974–1991)
Year	2026	Number	3 (92)
Pages	169-178	Type	scientific article
UDC	94(47)”1974/1991”	BBK	63.3(2)6
Authors	Speransky Andrei V.	Topic	HISTORICAL MOSAIC
Summary	The paper analyzes the contribution made by the “Alpha” counter-terrorism unit to the fight of security agencies against domestic and international terrorism, political extremism and espionage during the Soviet period, from its formation until the collapse of the USSR. Unlike the existing publications on this issue, which are mainly memoir-journalistic in nature, it presents an academic historical account of the material based on an integrative method that allows summarizing historical experience. An analysis is carried out of the main areas of activity of the “Alpha” counter-terrorism unit from 1974 to 1991. The paper also examines the mechanism of formation of the defining functions of special forces and their use in ensuring the security of international events, identifying and arresting agents of foreign intelligence services, protecting government officials, countering internal terrorist attacks related to the seizure of buildings, air and ground transportation. The paper expands historical knowledge about the outstanding special operations of members of the “Alpha” special unit, memorializes their unprecedented feat, helps strengthen the patriotic and spiritual and moral education of Russian citizens, and demonstrates the effectiveness of accumulated experience in anti-terrorist activities to counter modern threats to Russian statehood.
Keywords	terrorism, individual terror, mass terror, hostages, state security, anti-terrorism, Special Forces, special operation, professionalism, heroism
References	Bobkov F. D. [How the KGB of the USSR Fought Terrorism]. Rossiyskiy kto est’ kto [Russian Who Is Who], 2005, no. 1, pp. 77–80. (in Russ.). Boltunov M. E. «Al’fa» — sverkhsekretnyy otryad KGB [“Alpha” — The Top-Secret KGB Unit]. Moscow: Kedr Publ., 1992. (in Russ.). Boltunov M. E. Geroi antiterrora [Heroes of Anti-Terror]. Moscow: Veche Publ., 2021. (in Russ.). Cox D. Close Protection: The Politics of Guarding Russia’s Rulers. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2001. (in English). Drozdov S. [Air of Soviet Union]. Aviatsiya I Vremya [Aviation and Time], 2009, no. 2, pp.29–32. (in Russ.). Drozdov S. [Air of Soviet Union]. Aviatsiya I Vremya [Aviation and Time], 2009, no. 3, pp.28–31. (in Russ.). Drozdov S. [Air of Soviet Union]. Aviatsiya I Vremya [Aviation and Time], 2009, no. 4, pp.34–38. (in Russ.). Drozdov S. [Air of Soviet Union]. Aviatsiya I Vremya [Aviation and Time], 2009, no. 5, pp.30–33. (in Russ.). Filatov A. A. Kreshchenye nebom [Christened by the Sky]. Moscow: Ofitsery Gruppy A, Knizhnyy mir Publ., 2012. (in Russ.). Gubarev O. I. Vozdushnyy terror: khronika prestupleniy [Air Terror: A Chronicle of Crimes]. Moscow: Veche Publ., 2006. (in Russ.). Khristoforov V. S. Afganistan: voenno-politicheskoe prisutstvie SSSR. 1979–1989 gg. [Afghanistan: The Military-Political Presence of the USSR. 1979–1989]. Moscow: IRI RAN Publ., 2016. (in Russ.). Koshel’ P. A. Istoriya rossiyskogo terrorizma [The History of Russian Terrorism]. Moscow: Golos Publ., 1995. (in Russ.). Medov M. U. [Terrorism: The Historical Path and The True Nature]. Vestnik Akademii ekonomicheskoy bezopasnosti MVD Rossii [Bulletin of Academy of Economic Security of MIA of Russia], 2014, no. 3, pp. 28–32. (in Russ.). The Terrorism Reader: A Historical Anthology. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1978. (in English). Tsvigun S. K. Taynyy front [The Secret Front]. Moscow: Politizdat Publ., 1973. (in Russ.). Yushina S. V. [Terrorism: Historical Trajectory and Current Status]. Gumanitarnye i sotsial’nye nauki [The Humanities and Social Sciences], 2008, no. 2, pp. 55–58. (in Russ.). Zaytsev G. N. «Al’fa» — moya sud’ba [“Alpha” — My Destiny]. Saint Petersburg: Slaviya Publ., 2006. (in Russ.). Zaytsev G. N. «Al’fa» na sluzhbe Rodine [“Alpha” in the Service of the Motherland]. Moscow: Slaviya Publ., 2024, vols. 1. (in Russ.). Zaytsev G. N. «Al’fa» na sluzhbe Rodine [“Alpha” in the Service of the Motherland]. Moscow: Slaviya Publ., 2024, vols. 2. (in Russ.). Zen’kovich N. A. Pokusheniya i instsenirovki. Ot Lenina do El’tsina [Assassination Attempts and Fabrications. From Lenin to Yeltsin]. Moscow: OLMA-Press Publ., 1998. (in Russ.).
Download in PDF