In Russia, there are several local groups of Russians, such as Chaldons, Vodlozers, Russkoustintsy, and Zatundrennye peasants, among others. Among them, the so-called "Semeiskie" stand out. Despite being in the 21st century, they have managed to preserve the cultural and economic traditions of pre-Petrine Russia.

After the church reform conducted by Patriarch Nikon, the Old Believers separated from the official church. Not wanting to accept the new order, many of them left the country. In the late 18th century, Catherine II invited the Old Believers to return to Russia and settle on the free lands of Transbaikalia, announcing a partial amnesty.

Several thousand people responded to this offer. They lived in isolation, in large families, which gave them their name, Semeiskie. Like many Old Believers, this group was characterized by hard work and business acumen. They actively engaged in logging, fur trading, and fishing, carefully preserving the pre-Petrine way of life to which they were accustomed.

In some Semeiskie homes, you can still try bread "straight from the oven," try on a traditional Russian sarafan, and even participate in an Old Believer wedding. This is perhaps the only place in Russia where the hook singing or znamenny chant, characteristic of Old Believer worship services, has been preserved. Today, it is recognized by UNESCO as a musical phenomenon.

However, over time, the Semeiskie are increasingly succumbing to assimilation and globalization. Many of them now simply call themselves Russians, and no one lives in large family communities anymore. Nevertheless, in local villages, one can still feel the atmosphere of the pre-Petrine era.