When Russian troops invaded Ukraine, director Stas Kapralov's family dog Nika went missing. Determined to find her, Stas heads to a war-ravaged country and is drawn into a world of volunteers who risk everything to save abandoned animals.

His personal quest turns into a humanitarian mission as Stas takes part in the rescue of a blind lion, evacuates animals during bombings, and captures stories of bravery and compassion along the way. At the end of his journey, Stas finally learns the fate of his missing Nika.