An eighth century battle was fought over the weekend in Kopachev, Ukraine, a village about 25 miles from the capital Kyiv. Devoid of the noise of modern tools or cars, the culture park came alive with hundreds of people dressed in traditional costumes, forging swords, weaving clothes—and fighting.
About 100 young people dressed in the armor of ancient knights, waged battle with swords, shields, and axes.
These knights came from within Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus and belong to organizations devoted to reconstructing historic battles. When they fight, they use full contact, the most attractive part for young people along with a pursuit of history.
Ilya Pribytkov, 25, says that taking part in such re-enactments is a hobby for him, but in life he works as a manager in a technology company.
“All this entourage adds flavor to this festival. Moreover, this is our history, you learn a lot of things for yourself,” he says, adding that the attention to authenticity transports you back to that time in history.
Pribytkov says that fighting as a knight is difficult, but it cannot last that long since the equipment is so heavy. And since the goal isn’t to maim or kill your adversary, he says that some moves are forbidden, like directly stabbing a target, or punching someone’s neck and knee.
About 100 young people dressed in the armor of ancient knights, waged battle with swords, shields, and axes.
These knights came from within Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus and belong to organizations devoted to reconstructing historic battles. When they fight, they use full contact, the most attractive part for young people along with a pursuit of history.
Ilya Pribytkov, 25, says that taking part in such re-enactments is a hobby for him, but in life he works as a manager in a technology company.
“All this entourage adds flavor to this festival. Moreover, this is our history, you learn a lot of things for yourself,” he says, adding that the attention to authenticity transports you back to that time in history.
Pribytkov says that fighting as a knight is difficult, but it cannot last that long since the equipment is so heavy. And since the goal isn’t to maim or kill your adversary, he says that some moves are forbidden, like directly stabbing a target, or punching someone’s neck and knee.
