The Zmiievy Valy, also known as the Serpent Ramparts, are ancient earthen fortifications that stretch across central Ukraine
The Serpent’s Ramparts are well-known from folk tales. According to legend, Kotyhoroshko defeated the Serpent, harnessed it to a giant plow, and carved a massive furrow all the way to the Dnipro River.
In reality, the 950 kilometers of earthen mounds, reaching heights of 8–10 meters, were not built by a single Kotyhoroshko but by many people, starting as early as the 5th century BCE.
Ходосівське городищеSome of the most impressive ramparts were located south of Kyiv, particularly near the Small and Great Khodosivka fortifications.
The Small Khodosivka settlement dates back to the Early Iron Age (6th–5th centuries BCE) and once served as a fortified settlement for Scythian farmers. The settlement was protected by a massive earthen rampart stretching 10–12 kilometers in length and reaching up to 8 meters in height in some sections. Portions of the rampart still retain visible defensive ditches. During the Kyivan Rus period, this rampart was integrated into the system of the Serpent’s Ramparts, which served as the final line of defense before the capital.
The Great Khodosivka Fortification is one of the three largest archaeological landmarks in Ukraine’s forest-steppe zone, dating back to the Early Iron Age. The main rampart of the site is shaped like a horseshoe, measuring 4.5 by 3.0 kilometers, with a total length of 10–12 kilometers and a height of up to 8 meters in some places. In certain areas, remnants of an ancient defensive ditch can still be seen beneath the rampart, though it has been partially filled with soil over time. The total area enclosed by the rampart covers approximately 1–2 thousand hectares. During the Kyivan Rus period, this rampart became part of the defensive system, serving as the final protective barrier before Kyiv.
A hiking route partially follows the rampart, offering an awe-inspiring view of its scale even today.
