A peace-loving Cossack chooses to prove himself in battle when his village and childhood sweetheart label him a coward.
Lukashka is the son of a fierce Cossack chief, but he would rather relax in the woods or flirt with his sweetheart Maryana than go to battle with the neighboring Turks. However, his life changes when he is publicly humiliated by his fellow villagers and rejected by Maryana, who regard him as a coward. Overnight, Lukashka proves himself a capable warrior to prove them all wrong, impressing his father and Maryana; however, when she tries to apologize for her cruel treatment of him, he ignores her, even though he is still in love with her. Matters get complicated when the Tsar's son comes to village in search of a bride and sets his eyes on Maryana. And then there's still the Turks to contend with...—cupcakes
Lukashka humiliates his father, the village leader, Ivan, by refusing to participate in the Cossack preoccupation - killing Turks. The townspeople brand him a coward and humiliate him publicly, and his behavior elicits the disapproval of childhood sweetheart Maryana, his favorite pastime, along with reading. The escape of several Turkish prisoners arouses his fighting spirit; he becomes a real warrior and returns from battle proudly displaying a facial wound (a heroic injury, yielding status). When his pride causes him to be aloof with Maryana, she accepts the marriage proposal of visiting Russian royalty Prince Olenin. Lukashka chases the couple, already on their way to the capital Moscow. A Turkish cavalry attacks, kills the Prince and kidnaps Maryana. Father and son attack the Turkish raiders but are outnumbered. All are taken to the Turkish camp where father and son are tortured before being rescued by their Cossack village cavalry.
For centuries under the Tsardom of Russia, the Cossacks were stationed as a military force to combat the Turkish people. Ivan, the Ataman, leads a victorious army into their village after a successful military campaign, with Turkish prisoners of war. They celebrate their victory at a tavern and show reverence to God when the church bell rings. Ivan returns home where he mocks his son Lukashka for his pacifism. Later that night, Lukashka meets with his childhood friend Maryana, who wishes he would become a soldier. Other men in the village mock Lukashka for his pacifism by dressing him in a feminine garment, strap him to a pole, and throw grapes at him. Maryana, who despises Lukashka's pacifism, joins in.
Humiliated, Lukashka returns home and fights his father, overpowering him in the process. Shortly after, the Turkish prisoners escape. Determined to prove his bravery, Lukashka chases them. He shoots two and strangles their leader to death. The next morning, the Cossacks are called into battle again, and Lukashka joins them as a soldier. Before departing, Maryana pleads for Lukashka to return home alive, but he repeatedly ignores her. Sometime later, Prince Olenin arrives in the village where he has been ordered by the Tsar to marry a Cossack woman. Olenin stays at a local tavern, where he falls in love with Maryana, who works there as a maid. However, she resists his charms.
One night, the Cossack camp are attacked by the Turks and a fierce battle ensues. Back at the tavern, Olenin catches Maryana wearing one of his shawls. He corrects her, and soon proposes to her. She rejects his proposal, vowing only to marry a Cossack. Meanwhile, Lukashka returns home triumphant and meets with Maryana at the tavern. He states he had killed ten Turks, but he leaves the tavern after he learns Olenin had proposed to Maryana.
During a festival, Olenin reads a letter from the Tsar, stating a Cossack woman will be married to him and the Tsar has made peace with the Turks, thereby ending the Cossacks' military campaign. This angers Ivan, who states the war effort has always been their livelihood. Hoping to break the peace agreement, Lukashka writes an insulting letter to the Sultan, using the Tsar's name in the process. Immediately after, the Cossacks party with vodka and Gypsy women. Outside, Lukashka kisses one and follows her into a gypsy caravan, breaking Maryana's heart. She returns home and decides to marry Olenin.
Olenin and Maryana marry. Lukashka arrives, and strikes Maryana in jealousy. Later that day, Lukashka tries to repair his relationship with Maryana, but she decides to remain with Olenin. After being convinced by his father, Lukashka decides to chase after Maryana, who is being escorted to Moscow with her new husband. Along the way, Olenin's carriage is attacked by Turks. They kill him and they abduct his carriage, with Maryana still inside. Son and father, Lukashka and Ivan attempt to fight off the Turks, but are captured and brought before the Sultan. They refuse to kneel and are whipped and tortured.
A Cossack cavalry arrives and fights the Turks. Lukashka and Ivan are freed, but Ivan has died from the torture ordeal. Lukashka and the Cossacks return to their village victorious, and Maryana vows to be Lukashka's wife.
