In the XIth century Kyivan Rus' (Ukraine-Rus') reached its zenith under the reign of Yaroslav. He established enduring ties with many of the ruling European dynasties, strengthened the borders of Rus' and tried to free it from the influence of the Byzantine Empire. Since 988 the church of Rus' had been autonomous, apart from the right of Constantinople to appoint the Metropolitan.
An expedition group led by Professor Shestakov arrives in one of the regions of Siberia to search for diamonds. The research begins with a dramatic event: The expedition leader dies suddenly. However, the geologists decide to continue the difficult, dangerous hike along the taiga "diamond trail".
A journalistic story inspired by Volodymyr Vernadsky about the genesis of life in the universe — from the physical elements of the primordial broth to the civilization of intelligent man.
