He was born in the town of Tuapse, Krasnodar Territory, Russia on May 15, 1967. His father played the garmon and accordion. At the age of 9, Arhipovsky started at musical school to study the balalaika. Later he entered Gnessin State Musical College, the department of folk instruments, class – balalaika. Upon graduation, he entered the Smolensk folk orchestra as a soloist-balalaika. 