In the Zone of Special Attention

During a massive Soviet exercise, the Southern airborne regiment splits into three reconnaissance groups to locate the Hidden Command Center and to place a radio beacon for the main assault. Two groups are quickly captured by Northern counter-recon units, while the third, led by Lt. Tarasov, evades the traps and presses on. The mission aims to reveal the HCO's location for the incoming paratroopers.

A gang escapes from a nearby prison and assaults a local store, injuring the manager and stealing cash. Tarasov uses a military radio to report the incident to the local police, fully aware that such transmission could expose his team's position to the enemy. The incident adds chaotic urgency to the unfolding operation.

Praporshchik Volentir leaves the injured woman with the medical team and hurries to the forest warden's hut to borrow a motorcycle so he can catch up with the rest of the group. Upon arrival, he finds criminals have taken his forest family hostage. Using his martial arts training, he neutralizes the criminals and frees the hostages.

Major Morozhkyn intercepts Tarasov's police transmission and orders pursuit. Northern troops surround the area where Tarasov's group has been spotted. The paratroopers manage to escape by braving a swamp that is considered impassable.

Tarasov's group reunites with Volentir and reaches what looks like their objective, only to discover a fake underground facility built to mislead them. The pursuers close in rapidly, heightening the tension of a supposed setback. Tarasov drifts into doubt while Volentir provides steady encouragement.

Discouraged by the deception, Tarasov follows a nearby military telephone wire to locate the source of the enemy's communications. He leads the group toward the line's origin while Volentir stays behind to continue distracting the pursuers. The idea is to locate the actual command center through the wire's path.

With only fifteen minutes left before the airlift, officers debate a less desirable Plan B to drop at the original location and search there. The looming deadline increases the stakes as the real location remains undiscovered. The tension drives the team to push harder toward a solution.

The telephone line leads Tarasov and his team to the actual command center, revealing the true location of the HCO. They set up a radio beacon so the main paratroopers can home in on the target, coordinating the beacons with the impending drop. The clock continues to tick toward the airlift.

Moments later, the main force is dropped and lands with tense precision. The paratroopers seize the Hidden Command Center, overcoming the last-minute pursuit. The beacon and timing prove crucial to the success of the operation.

After the seizure, Tarasov faces the commander of the Northern army and declares that the Hidden Command Center is destroyed. The declaration marks the victory and the culmination of Tarasov's growth under pressure. The exchange underscores the mission's dramatic conclusion.

Volentir's steady leadership under fire proves crucial to keeping the unit cohesive during the chase and deception. Tarasov relies on the veteran to steady nerves and guide the younger men to complete the mission. The partnership highlights the veteran's value in high-stakes operations.

The operation concludes with the Hidden Command Center destroyed and the main force securing the area. The team reflects on how deception, tracking, and beacon-based coordination enabled a decisive victory. The mission ends on a note of strategic success.