How did it happen that the Soviet Union ceased to exist? Who is to blame for this? Using the example of the activities of party and Soviet bodies in Lugansk, the author shows the spiritual rottenness of the region's top leaders. The main character of the novel, Roman Semerchuk, goes from an employee of the regional party committee to a Ukrainian nationalist. His entourage, hiding behind democratic slogans, strives for their own enrichment. Debauchery, drunkenness, deception of the people - this is how the party and Soviet leadership lived. Deep knowledge of the material and original discussions about the historical moment make the book relevant for today. The book traces the fate of some of the heroes of another novel by the author, “Autumn of Dogs.”