Young man comes to collect a debt owed to him by the widow Popova's late husband. They argue, duel with pistols and fall in love while all of this is witnessed by Popova's servant Luka.

The evil wizard Chernomor abducts Princess Lyudmila during the wedding. Her husband Ruslan goes in search of his beloved.

A competition between milkmaids turns into magic duel as one of them hires a witch to perform a milking ritual, while a young girl discovers a talent to communicate with cows. Only her dreams are miles away, as she's in love.