Based on real events.
In the center of the story are two main characters - Lieutenant Colonel Soshnikov and Captain Muravyov. Two different characters, two different destinies that are destined to converge at the Khmeimim military base.
During a mission over Syria in 2015, Soshnikov's plane was shot down by a Turkish fighter. This event was covered by all the world's media, and the whole of Russia followed the course of the rescue operation. Oleg Soshnikov and navigator Konstantin Muravyov managed to eject, but only one of the soldiers was destined to return home alive.