The grave of the invincible otaman Ivan Sirko, Nikopol

Ivan Sirko was buried several times — and that is not a figure of speech. His remains were moved, the grave was saved from flooding, his skull was taken to Moscow and returned twenty-one years later. No other Cossack has travelled so much after death.

The grave of Cossack Kish Otaman Ivan Sirko near the village of Kapulivka in the Nikopol area is one of the most important Cossack sites in Ukraine. Here rests a man who in life was considered a kharakternik — a warrior-sorcerer «whom neither bullet nor sabre could touch» — and after death became a national legend.

Quick Facts

Important: Safety

The Nikopol area is on the right bank of the Dnipro, opposite the temporarily occupied part of the region, and comes under regular shelling. Always check the current security situation and official guidance before visiting. This article preserves the memory of the site; plan any visit solely on the basis of safety.

Who Was Ivan Sirko and Why People Come Here

Ivan Sirko was the Kish Otaman of the Chortomlyk Sich, one of the most celebrated Cossack commanders of the 17th century. According to tradition, he led dozens of victorious campaigns without a single defeat — hence the title kharakternik (warrior-sorcerer). He is most often credited as the author or inspiration behind the legendary letter of the Zaporizhian Cossacks to the Turkish Sultan.

People come to touch living Cossack history: the grave stands beside the site of one of the most important Siches, at the very heart of the Zaporizhian land. This is not merely a monument but a place of power for all who care about the history of Ukrainian Cossackdom.

Sirko died in 1680 at his apiary in the hamlet of Hrushivka. The Cossacks transported his body to the Chortomlyk Sich — to the place where the village of Kapulivka now stands, founded as early as 1652.

History: The Grave That Knew No Rest

After the otaman’s death he was buried with full honours near the Sich, and Kapulivka’s residents tended the grave for centuries. But the remains were not to find peace.

After the Sich was destroyed by Muscovite forces in 1775, Sirko’s remains were re-buried nearby. Then on 21 November 1967 a true drama unfolded: a storm struck the reservoir, wave-eroded banks were collapsing into the water in enormous chunks, and the grave was threatened with flooding. The Nikopol district executive committee hurriedly formed a commission to move the remains. The funeral procession set out for a new site — the Storozhova Mohyla burial mound — where a brick vault two metres deep was constructed.

The Story of the Stolen Skull

A separate astonishing detail: Sirko’s skull was removed from the grave for «research» at the Institute of Ethnography of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Sculptor Mykhailo Gerasimov used it to reconstruct the otaman’s probable appearance. The relic was not returned to Ukraine until 21 years later — by anthropologist Serhii Seheda. In the summer of 1990, during the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Ukrainian Cossackdom, Sirko’s remains together with his skull were finally re-buried according to the Christian rite in a single grave with a chapel.

Legends of Sirko the Sorcerer

No Cossack has accumulated as many legends as Sirko.

1. Born with Teeth

According to tradition, the future otaman came into the world with teeth already in his mouth — an omen that the child would «gnaw at enemies» his whole life.

2. How He Shot the Devil in the River

Legend holds that Sirko killed a devil in the river with a single shot — and from then on the river was called Chortomlyk. So Cossack folklore explained the name of the river beside the Sich.

3. The Hand That Guarded After Death

The most famous legend: the Cossacks supposedly severed Sirko’s right hand and carried it on campaigns as a talisman, believing that even the dead hand of the otaman brought victory. Historians are sceptical, but the legend endures.

Getting There

By car: from Nikopol to Kapulivka — about 20 km. The memorial grave is near the village; the road is signposted.

Important: this route is only viable with a clear security situation in the Nikopol area.

Visitor Checklist

• ✅ Check the security situation in the region first — this is the priority
• ✅ Water and a hat (steppe, open ground)
• ✅ Respect for the memorial and the burial
• ✅ Combine with Cossack sites of the Nikopol area (in peacetime)
• ❌ Do not leave litter at the memorial

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Sirko re-buried several times?

First because of the destruction of the Sich in 1775; then in 1967 when the grave was threatened with flooding; and finally in 1990, re-buried by Christian rite with his skull restored.

Why was the otaman’s skull taken away?

For anthropological research in Moscow; it was used to reconstruct Sirko’s probable appearance. The skull was not returned to Ukraine for 21 years.

Can you visit the grave now?

The Nikopol area is a frontline region under shelling. Plan a visit only after checking the current security situation.

The grave of Ivan Sirko is a story about how a true legend cannot be silenced even by death. The otaman was moved, buried, had his skull transported thousands of kilometres away — and still returned to his native soil. Stand by this chapel on the Nikopol steppe and you will feel why the name of Sirko has lived for more than three centuries.