Vladimir Mityukov

A former front-line soldier, who worked at his post for a quarter of a century, local commissioner Lieutenant Semyon Mitrofanovich Kovalev, going to the department in the morning, was most sad that tomorrow he would no longer have to go to service: tomorrow he would be retired. But the last day of his service ended tragically.

Hearing about the revolution in the hospital, the sailor Gulyavin goes to Petrograd, and from there with a detachment of Ukrainian volunteers he is sent to Ukraine. The troop is joined by cavalrymen under the command of the anarchist Lelka. The chief of staff, Stroyev, reproaches Gulyavin with negligence - you cannot take an untested detachment. However, the desperate courage of Lelka in battle with the White Guards gives Gulyavin not only respect for her, but love...