[2][3] In October 1941, near Moscow, cadets from the Podolsk artillery and infantry schools, on the brink of completing their training and becoming commanders, are abruptly ordered to guard the Ilyinsky line of defense.

Two close friends, who had been competing for the affections of a young woman, now face a stark reality: the German forces have broken through the front, and a tank column is advancing towards Moscow.

In fierce battles against overwhelming enemy forces, they hold their ground, sacrificing their lives to fulfill their mission and buying precious time until reinforcements can arrive.

[5] Historical consultants tried to achieve maximum reliability of what was shown, up to the reconstruction of the numbers of tanks and aircraft; in particular, Bezrukov's character is armed with a Thompson submachine gun, since such a weapon was found during excavations at the Ilyinsky border.

The Central Archives of the Russian Ministry of Defence provides advisory support and proper supervision over the credibility of the film.