Pushikn begins his poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila" with a description of a fairy land on a bay (this area was called "lukomorye" in old Russia), where a mighty green oak stands around which walks a magic cat tethered by a golden chain. When it goes to the right, it sings a song; when it goes to the left, it tells a tale. Rusalka (a mermaid) sits in the branches of the oak. A hut without doors and windows stands there on chicken legs. Thirty three knights rise up out of the sea, and so on.

King Vladimir of Kiev is celebrating the wedding of his daughter, Lyudmila, to the brave knight, Ruslan. The guests are enjoying the feast. Only three unlucky suitors, who also vied for Lyudmila's hand, sit gloomy. They are Rogday, Farlaf and Ratmir.
Night descends and the young couple is led to the bedchamber from where Lyudmila is suddenly abducted by the sorcerer Chernomor. Vladimir is distraught. He reproaches the bridegroom and promises his daughter's hand to whoever brings her back home. The four set off, each taking his own way. Soon Ruslan comes across Rogday, who attacks him but falls to Ruslan's sword. The cowardly Farlaf returns home with the hope of meeting Ruslan on his way back with Lyudmila and kidnapping the bride from his rival. As for Ratmir, he finds himself one evening at the walls of a palace inhabited by young beautiful maidens and in their company forgets Lyudmila. Only Ruslan doggedly continues on his way. He encounters a giant's head whose breath creates such a wind that Ruslan's horse can hardly withstand it. Ruslan manages to plunge his lance into the head's tongue and, taking advantage of the ensuing confusion, strikes it a fatal blow. The head rolls down the hill and in its place Ruslan finds a magic sword. He overcomes some other obstacles and finally finds himself at the walls of Chernomor's castle.
Meanwhile Lyudmila is walking freely in the garden amid fantastic trees, flowers and fairly birds behind the high walls which surround the castle on all sides. But she feels uncomfortable: she misses Ruslan and her home. Lyudmila takes possession by accident of Chernomor's magic hat. Whoever wears it back to front becomes invisible. The servants of Chernomor search for Lyudmila and cannot find her. Cunning Chernomor appears in the guise of Ruslan. The maiden takes off the hat and runs to him. At the same moment Ruslan blows his horn challenging Chernomor to a duel. Chernomor puts Lyudmila to sleep and flies with his long flowing beard to meet the knight in combat.
All Chernomor's strength is contained in his beard. Ruslan seizes Chernomor by the beard, and the sorcerer carries him away into the sky. After two days of flying, Chernomor tires and descends to earth. Ruslan cuts his beard off with the magic sword and tales the slumbering Lyudmila home. When he stops for a night's rest, Farlaf kills him and kidnaps Lyudmila. An old man brings Ruslan back to life and gives him a magic ring.
In the meantime, nomads besiege Kiev. Ruslan attacks them from the rear, and they flee. In the palace he touches Lyudmila with the magic ring and revives her. Farlaf confesses his crime. The wedding feast is resumed.

(Based on the poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by Pushkin. Vadim Shchanitsyn made the English language retelling).