The service of Second Lieutenant Yuri Romashov could not be called smooth. Constant clashes with officers, ridicule, censure and dissatisfaction with the command. None of this added optimism to the young officer's life. He felt lonely and depressed. The last straw was the death of a soldier in one of the companies. This incident led to a wave of drunkenness. During a drinking session between Romashov and his colleague Nikolaev, a conflict broke out, which entailed a duel.