Ukrainian television channel 2+2 will premiere the historical adventure series Adventures of Cossack Vyhovsky on August 31 at 20:20, featuring 17th-century technological inventions.
Actor Vitalii Azhnov plays Orest, a village eccentric and inventive genius whose ahead-of-his-time creations repeatedly assist Cossack Ivan Vyhovsky in outsmarting enemy forces during critical moments.
The upcoming show follows young Ivan Vyhovsky before he becomes Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host. Sent to the border settlement of Obmachiv to protect Ukrainian lands from northern invaders, the character transforms from a carefree carouser into a leader while navigating danger, chases, and romantic intrigue.
In Ukrainian history, Ivan Vyhovsky served as the leader of the Zaporozhian Host in the 17th century, succeeding Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky. Obmachiv, located in Chernihiv Oblast, served as a historic frontier outpost protecting the region. Broadcaster 2+2 operates as a nationwide Ukrainian entertainment network.
17th-century Facebook concept
Among Orest's inventions in the series is a project he calls Face-book. The character compiles a large book containing portraits of all village residents alongside key personal information.
Orest records details about each person's occupation, friendships, romantic interests, and whether they can be trusted or should be avoided. The inventor predicts that such a book will become indispensable in the future, when everyone will know everything about everyone.
Wooden self-propelled scooter
While other villagers travel on foot or rely on horses, Orest constructs a wooden self-propelled vehicle that causes widespread surprise across his community.
Series production designer Oleksandr Teteryn said the team specifically built the vehicle for filming, sawing all elements from wood based on modern scooter designs. Teteryn noted that prop makers deliberately used crooked sticks in places so it would look imperfect, though it was fully functional and could carry two people. He added that while moving across cobblestones presented difficulties during production, the crew found a solution to the problem.
Aerial drone and spy passwords
Orest also creates a flying apparatus to support Cossacks fighting Muscovite forces. The prototype drone ascends above fortresses to deliver explosive payloads directly into enemy camps.
To expose enemy spies, Orest proposes updating security protocols. He argues that anyone can easily pronounce the traditional test word palyanytsia, suggesting suspects should instead be asked to say nisenytsya.
Linguistically, palyanytsia is a traditional Ukrainian hearth-baked bread that historically served as a pronunciation test to identify non-native speakers. The word nisenytsya means nonsense in Ukrainian, reflecting Orest's tendency to seek unconventional solutions. Viewers can see Orest's full range of inventions when Adventures of Cossack Vyhovsky debuts on August 31 at 20:20 on channel 2+2.
