On 28 July 1974 , Alpha Group was created on the orders of the KGB Chairman , Yuri Andropov , in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich massacre . It might have been established as a response to West Germany 's creation of the '' Grenzschutzgruppe 9 '' ( or the GSG 9 ) . By attaching a special-purpose unit to the office of the First Chief Directorate in Moscow ( later the Seventh Directorate ) , it was hoped that the Soviet Union 's defensive capacity against terrorist attacks would increase significantly . At the time , other , more offensive special forces of the KGB included the groups Zenit and Kaskad/Omega . Another important mission for Alpha was to provide security for the Soviet leadership against enemy special forces in times of crisis or war
1972 Munich massacre
Munich massacre
Alpha Group