It is believed that the Russian exploration of Siberia began after Yermak's campaigns; however, research by ethnographers and archaeologists disproves this opinion. According to various sources, Russians crossed the Urals as early as the 14th century. Archaeologist Vasily Florinsky, conducting excavations in the Ob region, found numerous items characteristic of Rus: painted pots, faience beads, ear rings, ancient swords, and bracelets. Russian chain mail and rings with patterns similar to those found on ancient Russian quivers were also discovered.

It is known that the locals referred to the newcomers from Rus as chaldons. The exact meaning of this word is unknown, but there are two main versions. One suggests that chaldon is a shortening of "man from the Don," while the other posits that these were people who arrived from the Don in boats. They spoke an old Russian dialect, using words like "komoni" instead of "koni" and "chalovik" instead of "chelovek." Doctor of Historical Sciences Galina Pelykh from Tomsk noted that some of the old-timers in Siberia use a special dialect: "igorod," "igurtsy," "da cha," "da poshto," "ty, matka, cha, ta ty cha."

Chaldons led an ascetic lifestyle, living in large families in connected huts. They engaged in hunting, fishing, and agriculture, and by the time of Yermak's Cossacks, they had already established trade with the locals. A century later, their ranks were joined by runaway peasants and Old Believers who resisted the forced adoption of Orthodoxy according to Nikon's model. Perhaps this is why their role in the exploration of Siberia was forgotten, and all the glory went to Yermak and his troops.