Svetozar, Grand Prince of Kiev: bass

Ludmila, his daughter: soprano

Ruslan, a Kievan knight, Lyudmila's betrothed: baritone

Ratmir, a Khazar prince: contralto

Farlaf, a Varangian knight: bass

Gorislava, a captive of Ratmir [and in love with him]: soprano

Finn, a good sorcerer: tenor

Naina, an evil sorceress: mezzo-soprano

Bayan, a bard: tenor

Chernomor, an evil sorcerer, dwarf: non-singing role

A Giant Head: chorus (inside)

Sons of Svetozar, knights, boyars and boyarynyas, chamber-maids and nurses-maids, page boys, bodyguards, cupbearers, stolniks, the Prince's armed force, and people; maids of the magic castle, blackamoors, dwarves, slaves of Chernomor, nymphs, water-nymphs