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Escape from Tarkov. Raid. (2021) movie poster

Timeline

Escape from Tarkov. Raid. (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 65 mins · Russian
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Directed by
Anton Rozenberg
Starring
Vladimir Lukyanchikov, Mikhail Solodko, Igor Maslov, Oleg Savtsov, Kristina Aleksandrova, Oleg Rudenko-Travin

This feature film expands on the Raid miniseries, bringing the world of the Escape from Tarkov action RPG to the big screen. Directed by Anton Rosenberg, the story unfolds in Norvinsk, a special economic zone bordering Russia and Europe, where a fierce armed conflict is underway. Two private military companies, USEC and BEAR, clash in intense battles against each other and the remaining gangs known as Scavs. The narrative follows a protagonist trapped within the occupied city of Tarkov, with all exits blocked by UN peacekeepers and Russian military forces.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Escape from Tarkov. Raid.
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Escape from Tarkov. Raid. Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Escape from Tarkov. Raid. (2021) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Tarkov at the Heart of the Norvinsk Zone

    The fictional city of Tarkov stands as the capital of the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone in northwestern Russia. Its special economic status draws corporations and investment to the region. Beneath the surface, however, corruption is already taking root.

    When
    2015
    Where
    Tarkov, Norvinsk Special Economic Zone, Russia
  2. TerraGroup's Illegal Activities Begin

    The powerful corporation TerraGroup conducts secret illegal activities inside the special economic zone. Its operations become deeply entangled with the city's institutions and economy. These forbidden dealings will become the spark that ignites the entire conflict in Tarkov.

    Where
    Tarkov
  3. Political Scandals Erupt

    Political scandals begin to rock the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone, exposing corruption at the highest levels. Public confidence in the city's institutions starts to collapse. The revelations set the stage for widespread instability across Tarkov.

    Where
    Tarkov
  4. Corporations Collapse

    Corporations across the zone begin to collapse under the weight of scandal and economic ruin. The fallout produces mass unemployment and desperation among Tarkov's residents. The city's once-thriving economy crumbles into chaos.

    Where
    Tarkov
  5. Social Breakdown of Tarkov

    With its economy destroyed and institutions disgraced, Tarkov descends into full social breakdown. Law and order dissolve as daily life becomes a struggle for survival. The city begins its transformation from a prosperous capital into a battlefield.

    Where
    Tarkov
  6. Warring Factions Turn the City into a Shell

    Warring factions fight for control of Tarkov, carving the city into contested territories. Constant fighting reduces whole districts to ruins and leaves the city a shell of its former self. The civilians who remain are caught in the crossfire of endless turf wars.

    Where
    Tarkov
  7. The Scavengers Rise

    Aggressive locals known as Scavengers, or Scavs, seize control of sections of the ruined city. Hostile to all outsiders, they become the primary threat to anyone entering their territory. Their grip on neighborhoods marks a new era of lawlessness in Tarkov.

    Where
    Tarkov
  8. Russia Creates BEAR

    The Russian government creates the Battle Encounter Assault Regiment, or BEAR, a private military company. Its mission is to investigate TerraGroup's illegal activities in the Norvinsk zone. BEAR operators favor Russian and Soviet firearm platforms, reflecting the company's origins.

    Where
    Russia
  9. TerraGroup Hires USEC

    TerraGroup hires United Security, or USEC, a Western-based private military company. The corporation's goal is to cover up its illegal activities before investigators can expose them. USEC operators begin with greater experience on Western and NATO-based firearms.

    Where
    Tarkov
  10. BEAR and USEC Clash

    BEAR and USEC operatives are deployed into Tarkov and soon find themselves in open conflict. The Russian-backed investigators and the corporate cover-up force fight across the city's ruined districts. The rivalry between the two PMCs becomes the central struggle of the Tarkov conflict.

    When
    2015–2026
    Where
    Tarkov
  11. Scav Factions and Tiers Form

    The Scavengers organize themselves into several distinct factions and tiers of power. Normal Scavs carry low-tier gear and weapons, relying on numbers and aggression to overwhelm enemies. They remain hostile to both BEAR and USEC operatives roaming the city.

    Where
    Tarkov
  12. Elite Scav Groups Emerge

    Beyond the basic Scavs, more dangerous groups appear across Tarkov. Rogues, Cultists, and Scav Raiders field better equipment and display far more complex behaviors. Each group holds specific territories and spawn points, making certain districts considerably deadlier than others.

    Where
    Tarkov
  13. Scav Bosses Take Command

    Powerful Scav Bosses rise to lead the hostile locals, dominating their respective zones. These bosses boast far more hitpoints, superior equipment, and much more difficult AI than ordinary Scavs. Many are accompanied by personal guards, making them the deadliest threats in the city.

    Where
    Tarkov
  14. Shifting Tides of the Conflict

    Battlestate Games periodically alters spawn rates and the maps on which the factions appear during special events. These shifting conditions keep the balance of power in Tarkov in constant flux. Both PMCs and Scavs must adapt as the battlefield changes around them.

    Where
    Tarkov
  15. Tarkov in Ruins

    By 2026, Tarkov remains a shattered city divided between warring PMCs and hostile Scavengers. The conflict between BEAR and USEC over TerraGroup's secrets still rages with no end in sight. The former capital of the Norvinsk zone stands as a shell of the prosperous city it once was.

    When
    2026
    Where
    Tarkov, Norvinsk Special Economic Zone, Russia

Last updated: October 03, 2026 at 14:47

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Timeline questions answered

Escape from Tarkov. Raid. Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Escape from Tarkov. Raid. (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Tarkov completely sealed off from the outside world?

Tarkov is sealed off because the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone has descended into a full-scale armed conflict between multiple factions, making any civilian movement through the city impossible. Russian military forces and UN peacekeepers have established a blockade around the city to contain the fighting and prevent the violence from spilling into neighboring regions. With all exits blocked, anyone inside the zone is effectively trapped until the conflict is resolved.

  • tarkov blockade
  • norvinsk sealed
  • un peacekeepers
  • russian military
  • city sealed off
Q2

Why are BEAR and USEC at war with each other?

BEAR and USEC are fighting because they were deployed to Tarkov with completely opposing objectives. BEAR is a Russian government-backed private military company tasked with investigating and exposing TerraGroup's illegal activities, while USEC was hired directly by TerraGroup to cover up those same crimes. Since both factions need control of the same city to complete their missions, they inevitably collide on the ground, turning Tarkov into the central battleground of a corporate proxy war.

  • bear vs usec
  • pmc conflict
  • tarkov factions
  • terragroup investigation
  • proxy war
Q3

What is TerraGroup hiding that caused the entire conflict?

TerraGroup was secretly conducting a wide array of illegal activities inside the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone, deeply entangling its operations with the city's institutions and economy. When political scandals began exposing the corruption at the highest levels, TerraGroup hired USEC to protect its interests and silence anyone investigating its crimes. To counter this, Russia created BEAR specifically to pursue TerraGroup, and the resulting clash between cover-up and investigation turned the city of Tarkov into a warzone.

  • terragroup crimes
  • terragroup illegal activities
  • corporate cover-up
  • tarkov root cause
  • norvinsk corruption
Q4

How did Tarkov turn from a thriving city into a warzone?

Tarkov's transformation began when political scandals exposed massive corruption at the highest levels of the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone, shattering public trust in the city's institutions. Major corporations then collapsed under the weight of those revelations, triggering mass unemployment and economic ruin across the region. With law and order dissolved, warring factions carved the city into contested territories, reducing entire districts to ruins and leaving Tarkov as a shell of its former self.

  • tarkov collapse
  • norvinsk downfall
  • city in ruins
  • social breakdown tarkov
  • history
Q5

Who are the Scavengers and why are they hostile to everyone?

The Scavengers, often shortened to Scavs, are aggressive local residents of Tarkov who seized control of large sections of the city after the social breakdown. They view all foreign military presence, whether BEAR, USEC, or any outsider, as invaders exploiting their ruined home. This resentment, combined with the collapse of law and order, has turned the Scavs into a hostile faction that attacks anyone entering their territory, regardless of which side they belong to.

  • scavengers
  • scavs tarkov
  • hostile locals
  • tarkov civilians
  • scav faction
Q6

What's the difference between the different Scav factions?

The Scavs are not a single unified group but are divided into several tiers with varying levels of danger. Normal Scavs carry low-tier gear and basic weapons, relying on numbers and aggression to overwhelm targets. More dangerous groups like Rogues, Cultists, and Scav Raiders field better equipment and exhibit far more complex tactical behavior. At the top are the Scav Bosses, who possess far more hitpoints, elite equipment, and difficult AI patterns, often guarded by personal elite guards.

  • scav factions
  • rogue scavs
  • cultists
  • scav raiders
  • scav tiers
  • scav types
Q7

Why did the Russian government create BEAR specifically?

The Russian government created the Battle Encounter Assault Regiment, or BEAR, with the explicit goal of investigating the crimes committed by the powerful corporation TerraGroup inside the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone. Because TerraGroup had become deeply entangled with the city's institutions and economy, Russia needed a dedicated private military force capable of operating inside the chaotic warzone to gather evidence and pursue the investigation. BEAR operators are equipped with Russian and Soviet-made weaponry, reflecting the company's national origins.

  • bear pmc russia
  • russian private military
  • terragroup investigation
  • bear creation
  • bear backstory
Q8

Why did TerraGroup hire United Security to operate in Tarkov?

TerraGroup hired United Security, a Western-based private military company, to protect its interests and cover up its wide array of illegal activities inside the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone. With BEAR being established by Russia to investigate those same crimes, TerraGroup needed a force capable of countering the Russian-backed operators while maintaining operational independence from local institutions. USEC operatives come with a combat proficiency bonus on Western and NATO-based firearms, giving TerraGroup a tactical advantage against BEAR's Russian and Soviet-equipped rivals.

  • usec western pmc
  • terragroup hired usec
  • foreign mercenaries
  • nato pmc
  • usec role
Q9

What makes the Scav Bosses so much harder to fight than regular Scavs?

Scav Bosses are significantly more dangerous than regular Scavs because they possess far more hitpoints, wield the highest-quality equipment available in the zone, and follow much more difficult AI behavioral patterns. Many are also accompanied by elite personal guards who protect them during combat encounters. These combined factors make facing a Scav Boss like Barmaley, Voron, or Demon a high-stakes tactical challenge for both BEAR and USEC operatives during their raids across the city.

  • scav bosses
  • barmaley
  • voron
  • demon boss
  • elite enemies
  • tarkov bosses
Q10

What caused the original political scandals in the Norvinsk zone?

The political scandals in the Norvinsk Special Economic Zone erupted when corruption at the highest levels of the city's institutions became exposed, revealing deep ties between powerful corporations like TerraGroup and the local government. These revelations shattered public confidence in the city's leadership and triggered a chain reaction that brought down major corporations across the zone. The resulting economic ruin and social collapse created the power vacuum that allowed warring factions and Scavengers to turn Tarkov into a battlefield.

  • norvinsk scandals
  • political corruption
  • terragroup exposure
  • corporate scandal
  • tarkov backstory

Movie threads

More Movies Like Escape from Tarkov. Raid., by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Escape from Tarkov. Raid. tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Walled city survival stories like Escape from Tarkov. Raid.

Protagonists trapped inside sealed urban zones where every faction is a threat. Movies like Escape from Tarkov. Raid. where protagonists are trapped inside sealed or occupied cities. If you liked the kill-or-be-killed urban pressure and faction warfare of Escape from Tarkov. Raid., these survival stories will hit the same claustrophobic nerve.

  • claustrophobic
  • trapped
  • urban warfare
  • hostile factions
  • no escape
  • oppressive
  • Tone: tense, oppressive
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The protagonist begins cut off from escape, surrounded by hostile or indifferent factions controlling every checkpoint and exit. The narrative unfolds through raids, scavenging runs, and covert movement through hostile blocks. Choices shape which side will shoot first, while escape remains elusive or impossible. The story resolves not through triumph but through endurance, a narrow breakthrough, or a costly sacrifice.

Why they belong together: They share the same trapped-in-a-killbox atmosphere, multi-faction combat pressure, and urban survival focus. Tension stays high because the environment itself is hostile, not just individual antagonists, and the pace stays fast because every corner could be the last.

Faction firefight action like Escape from Tarkov. Raid.

Relentless combat between armed factions under layered political and corporate stakes. If you liked the relentless faction combat and corporate intrigue of Escape from Tarkov. Raid., these action and war thrillers deliver the same layered armed conflict. Think multiple PMCs, mercenary groups, and militias clashing under the shadow of bigger powers.

  • adrenaline fueled
  • warlike
  • multi faction
  • PMC combat
  • chaotic
  • tactical
  • Tone: tense, warlike
  • Pacing: fast and chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories unfold through escalating raids, ambushes, and shifting allegiances between armed factions. A protagonist is often caught in the middle, forced to pick sides, betray allies, or exploit the chaos. Corporate or governmental agendas lurk behind every firefight, adding strategic and moral complexity to each encounter. Victories feel tactical and provisional rather than heroic.

Why they belong together: They share relentless multi-faction combat, complex armed-group politics, and a corporate or political backdrop that turns the violence into something strategic. The intensity runs high, the pace stays fast, and the heaviness comes from moral collapse and social breakdown rather than personal loss.

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Escape from Tarkov. Raid. (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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