The Syrian Civil War in 2015 saw Russian forces engaged in operations to support the Syrian government against ISIS and other rebel groups. Soldiers found themselves in deadly situations, navigating dangerous terrain and militants while confronting the complex political realities of Syria. The film captures the intensity of urban and desert warfare, where soldiers must contend with the realities of war zones as well as the logistical and psychological pressures of the mission.
The story follows Ivan Yermakov, a former Russian soldier struggling to adjust to civilian life after serving in the Second Chechen War. When he learns that his former commander, Grey, has been captured by ISIS in Syria, Ivan, driven by loyalty and duty, embarks on a dangerous solo mission to rescue him. The film includes desert chases, ambushed convoys, tactical negotiations, and encounters with U.S. military patrols. Beyond the adrenaline-fueled action, it also explores the courage, camaraderie and resilience of soldiers in extreme circumstances.
Infiltration has been widely praised for its large-scale battle scenes, authentic shooting locations across Russia, Crimea, and Syria, and its multilingual dialogue in Russian, English, and Arabic. The film stands out not only for its character-driven narrative and musical score but also as a vivid, uncompromising depiction of modern warfare—a cinematic preservation of the unvarnished memory of Russia’s forever wars.