Alpha GroupSpetsgruppa "A", also known as Alpha Group, officially Directorate "A" of FSB Special Purpose Center (Russian: Спецназ ФСБ "Альфа", romanized: Spetsnaz FSB "Alfa"), is a sub-unit of Russian special forces within the Russian Special Purpose Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB). It was created by the Soviet KGB in 1974.
Russian commando frogmenThe Russian commando frogmen (Russian: Морской спецназ, romanized: Morskoy spetsnaz), informally called "commando frogmen" in civilian media, are a Russian Naval Spetsnaz unit under operational subordination to the GRU that specialized in amphibious reconnaissance to prepare for amphibious warfare operations, clandestine operation, defense against swimmer incursions, direct action against important strategic or tactical goals, irregular warfare, ISTAR, maritime counterterrorism and hostage rescue, and naval special warfare.
VympelDirectorate "V" of the FSB Special Purpose Center, often referred to as Spetsgruppa "V"Vympel (pennant in Russian,), but also known as KGB Directorate "V", Vega Group, is a stand-alone sub-unit of Russia's special forces within the Russian Special Purpose Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB). Vympel is the sister unit of Spetsgruppa "A" (Alpha Group), an FSB unit.
Spetsnaz GRUSpetsnaz GRU, formally known as Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, (Russian: Части и подразделения специального назначения Главного управления Генерального штаба Вооружённых сил Российской Федерации) is the special forces (spetsnaz) of the GRU, the foreign military intelligence agency of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
ChekaThe All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, abbreviated as VChK (Russian: ВЧК, IPA:), and commonly known as the Cheka (Russian: ЧК, IPA:), was the first Soviet secret police organization. It was established on 20 December[O.S. 7 December] 1917 by the Council of People's Commissars of the Russian SFSR, and was led by Felix Dzerzhinsky. By the end of the Russian Civil War in 1922, the Cheka had at least 200,000 personnel.
NKVDThe People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (Russian: Народный комиссариат внутренних дел, romanized: Narodnyy komissariat vnutrennikh del, IPA:), abbreviated as NKVD (Russian: НКВД; listen), was both the interior ministry and the secret police of the Soviet Union from 1934 to 1946.
Special forcesSpecial forces or special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment".
Soviet UnionThe Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from its formation in 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, the largest by area, and bordered twelve other countries.Chronology of Soviet secret police agenciesThere were a succession of Soviet secret police agencies over time. The Okhrana was abolished by the Provisional government after the first revolution of 1917, and the first secret police after the October Revolution, created by Vladimir Lenin's decree on December 20, 1917, was called "Cheka" (ЧК).
RussiaRussia, or the Russian Federation, is a country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the largest country in the world, spanning eleven time zones and sharing land borders with fourteen countries. With a population of over 140 million, Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous in the world. It is a highly urbanised country, with three-fourths of its population living in urban areas.
Main Intelligence Directorate (Soviet Union)Main Intelligence Directorate (Russian: Главное разведывательное управление, romanized: Glavnoye razvedyvatel'noye upravleniye, IPA: [ˈglavnəjə rɐzˈvʲɛdɨvətʲɪlʲnəjə ʊprɐˈvlʲenʲɪjə]), abbreviated GRU (Russian: ГРУ, IPA: [ɡɨ̞‿rɨ̞‿ˈu], [gru]), was the foreign military intelligence agency of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces until 1991.
Separate Operational Purpose DivisionRussian National Guard division Separate Operational Purpose DivisionОтдельная орденов Жукова, Ленина и Октябрьской Революции Краснознамённая дивизия оперативного назначения Войск национальной гвардии Российской Федерации им. Ф. Е.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.