By Trendsetter Tribune 
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) says one of its most elite units, the Alpha Special Operations Center, has inflicted more than $5.5 billion in confirmed losses on Russian forces since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The claim highlights the growing role of special operations forces and drone warfare in reshaping the battlefield, particularly as Ukraine relies on precision strikes and asymmetric tactics to offset Russia’s numerical advantages.
The Alpha Special Operations Center is the SBU’s premier counterterrorism and special warfare unit, traditionally tasked with high-risk operations inside Ukraine and against external threats. Since Russia launched its full invasion in February 2022, Alpha has been repurposed into a frontline combat force, integrating drones, intelligence, and rapid-strike capabilities.
As the war has evolved into a prolonged, high-intensity conflict, Ukrainian forces have increasingly emphasized cost-imposing strategies—destroying expensive Russian hardware with relatively low-cost systems such as drones and guided munitions.
According to a statement released by the SBU press service, Alpha special forces have destroyed more than $5.5 billion worth of Russian military equipment, based solely on confirmed hits.
The SBU says that for four consecutive months, Alpha has ranked among the top units within Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces for the number of Russian vehicles and personnel destroyed by drones. In overall rankings, SBU special forces reportedly hold second place among all Ukrainian units.
The damage tally includes tanks, armored vehicles, and other high-value military assets.
One of the most striking figures cited by the SBU is Alpha’s impact on Russian armored forces.
According to the statement:
- Every sixth Russian tank destroyed by Ukrainian forces on the front line is attributed to Alpha’s operations
- The unit has destroyed more than 1,800 tanks since the invasion began
If accurate, those numbers underscore the vulnerability of Russian armor to coordinated drone attacks and precision targeting, especially in contested areas where traditional maneuver warfare has stalled.
Tank losses have become a central metric of battlefield effectiveness in the war, as both sides struggle to replace destroyed armor amid sanctions, production bottlenecks, and logistical strain.
Alpha’s role is not limited to direct front-line combat. The SBU says the unit has also been highly effective in deep-strike operations, using long-range drones to hit Russian targets far behind the front.
These strikes have reportedly targeted:
- Military airfields
- Ammunition and logistics warehouses
- Oil refineries and fuel infrastructure
Such operations are designed to disrupt Russia’s ability to sustain combat operations, degrade logistics chains, and impose economic and military costs beyond the battlefield.
Deep strikes have become an increasingly important element of Ukraine’s strategy, particularly as Kyiv seeks to demonstrate that no rear area is completely safe from attack.
Alpha’s reported performance illustrates several broader trends in the war:
First, the growing dominance of drone warfare.
Drones have become the single most important tool for surveillance, targeting, and strike missions. Units like Alpha that can integrate intelligence with rapid drone deployment gain a disproportionate battlefield advantage.
Second, cost asymmetry.
Destroying billion-dollar equipment inventories with comparatively inexpensive systems puts sustained pressure on Russia’s military-industrial capacity. Even if some claims are overstated, the strategic logic remains sound.
Third, elite units as force multipliers.
Rather than mass formations, Ukraine increasingly relies on highly trained units capable of precision operations, especially as manpower constraints grow more severe.
Alpha’s ability to operate both at the front and deep in the rear positions it as a hybrid force—combining special operations, intelligence, and technological warfare.
The SBU statement also noted that the Alpha Special Operations Center has announced recruitment for its air defense team.
According to the agency, Alpha already possesses extensive experience in protecting Ukraine’s airspace and is now seeking to expand and share that expertise. This suggests a broader institutional effort to scale up air defense capabilities amid continued Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The recruitment drive reflects the reality that air defense remains one of Ukraine’s most urgent needs, even as frontline fighting continues.
If the SBU’s figures are even partially accurate, they point to significant implications:
- For Russia: Sustained losses of armored vehicles and infrastructure increase pressure on production, logistics, and morale.
- For Ukraine: Elite units like Alpha offer a way to remain competitive despite shortages in manpower and heavy equipment.
- For the conflict overall: The war continues to shift toward technology-driven attrition, where intelligence and precision matter as much as sheer numbers.
The emphasis on confirmed hits suggests an effort by Ukrainian authorities to maintain credibility amid widespread information warfare on both sides.
Ukraine’s Security Service says its Alpha Special Operations Center has played an outsized role in degrading Russia’s military capabilities, claiming more than $5.5 billion in confirmed equipment losses since the start of the full-scale invasion.
From tank destruction on the front line to deep strikes against airfields and refineries, Alpha’s reported operations highlight how modern warfare increasingly favors speed, intelligence, and precision over mass.
As the conflict grinds on, units like Alpha may prove decisive—not by winning quick victories, but by steadily raising the cost of Russia’s war effort.