Moments before their departure on holiday to the tropics, Spirou and Fantasio are taken by the DST for the KGB which needs them.

They're told that Moscow is being terrorised by the mysterious 'White Prince of the Russian Mafia', Tanaziof.

If Spirou and Fantasio help to solve the case, Russia will free a French journalist who they've taken custody.

Zantafio's inept second-in-command, Nikita Vlalarlev, tries to assassinate the two heroes by crushing them with a part of monument, but fails.

Zantafio is planning to abduct the body of Lenin and to ask the Russian government for a huge ransom for its return.