World War II is over, but the post-war city of Odessa is ruled by serial killer prison-escapees and former Nazi collaborators.

Together with the head of the local criminal investigation unit, David Gottsman, Marshal Zhoukov begins a special operation post-war Odessa crime cleanup.

The plot reflects the widespread myth about how Marshal Zhukov eliminated Odessa crime through extrajudicial arrests of criminal authorities and a specially organized "shooting" of street robbers.

In the "Meeting Place", chief of criminal investigations Gleb Zheglov (played by Vladimir Vysotskiy) had a modus operandi "The thief must go to prison, no matter how I put him there" (and uses planted evidence to do so).

In Liquidation, chief of criminal investigations David Gottsman's (played by Vladimir Mashkov) motto has changed to "The thief must go to prison, but lawfully so".

The stars of the film include famous Russian actors such as Vladimir Mashkov and Konstantin Lavronenko (The Return, The Banishment).

On June 9, 1946, Zhukov was appointed commander of the Odessa military district, despite having previously held the post of commander-in-chief of all Soviet ground forces.

The documentary filmmakers faced the problem of secrecy: all official appeals to both state archives and the FSB yielded no results.

Soldiers laid ambushes, searched suspicious apartments, attics and basements, and checked documents at city entrance and exit points.

New charges were brought against the Marshal for allegedly "abusing his official position, siding with the looters, and removing valuables from Germany for personal gain."

Near this place, in the ruins, Yefim, with the help of homeless boy Mishka "Crucian", finds a deposit of thousand sets of military uniform.

There are almost no leads anywhere in the case, so Gottsman requests a meeting of the gang leaders of Odessa through Uncle Yeshta, kingpin in underworld who happens to live in his home.

However, "Greying Greek"’s arrest is to be postponed, as Gottsman’s group is unexpectedly ordered to guard Marshal Zhukov, who is outside in the city.

The case of the stolen uniforms continues grow, but all leads seem to get cut off – the goods were burnt in the truck, Yefim was found murdered, "Greying Greek" was finally arrested, but was shot dead during his transport to the station.

Major Dovjik, of the CIU, finds a chance to place a rat in the gang – arrested bandit Sam "Goosey".

Gottsman adopts ex-homeless boy and pickpocket Mishka "Crucian" who is now a pupil of a boarding school for gifted children.

The whole city turns up for the show, and, as a sign of respect, entire underworld announces a "non-working" day for all criminals and even catch and beat up those who decide to pickpocket during concert.

The thieves are released under strict conditions dictated by Gottsman – namely, to call off their gangs and return the stolen weapons.

Marshal Zhukov orders the commencement of Operation “Masquerade”- military intelligence officers were dressed in expensive suits, and given money and weapons.

Everyone seems to fall into his circle of suspects – Captain Yakimenko, who shot Luzhov dead, Major Dovjik, with his strange contacts in the criminal world, and military doctor Arsenin, who served in the Far East and who was, on more than one occasion, interested in the investigation.

It quickly becomes apparent to Gottsman that the operation was planned by the Counterintelligence Unit – the intelligence officers didn't miss even once, and are silent when interrogated.

He knew several things about the “Academic”, but his description was vague and unclear, suiting almost any member of the CI Unit – Dovjik, who suspiciously quickly and easily found Ida, Yakimenko, who, as a sniper, strangely missed and killed Luzhov, and Vitaliy Krechetov, who worked as an investigator at the Second Belorussian Front, but somehow didn't remember a scandalous criminal case in 1943.

Krechetov reveals that he served as part of a group of commanding subfield personnel, together with the Secretary of the UWB and other equally important people.

Shortly afterwards, Marshal Zhukov announces military training in Moldavia, which means that, in several days, only the sentinel garrison and the police will be patrolling the city.

Meanwhile, Tolya "Zhivchik", "Chekan"’s assistant, hands out Red Army uniforms and weapons to various gang members, enabling them to pose as military personnel as part of Krechetov’s plan.

When asking for a cigarette, Krechetov grabs a hidden pistol and shoots the two arresting officers, taking Gottsman hostage.

"Remember: not so long ago ideological enemies of Soviet authorities, and it doesn't matter who they were in real life, have always been positive characters in the movies, especially in the times of "perestroika" and the Russian post-Soviet period.

Isn't there a hint that the Russian culture, and in particular — movies, again ready to defend and protect Soviet values exposed to obstruction in former times?

Maybe I cringe cards a little, however, I want to pity Academician mentioned above, despite all his treacherous nature: he was against the "Soviets" but he was killed for his convictions", — Andriy Kokotiukha, writer.

And at the same time, only in the first week of September, 10 Ukrainian channels showed 71 Russian TV series, including "Liquidation", where security officers kill banderivetses."