Since the century XV, a class named as "Kazakhs" came into existence in the south of Russia. These people were composed of the lower classes that ran away from the tyranny and oppression of the Russian beys and princes and particularly the noble classes. These fugitives settled in various towns especially on the banks of Don River and Ozu stream. Then, they were named as "Kazakh", originally a Turkish name that meant the persons that "do not obey to any laws or dominion". Before the Russian Kazaks, it has been understood that there were Turkish groups named as "Kazakhs" in the southern Russia. The Russian "Kazakhs" imitated the lifestyles and organisations of these Turkish "Kazak" people and they had also added some Russian characteristics.
Their means of subsistence was fishing along Don and Dneper Rivers, agriculture that was limited in quantity; and the most important activities of these people was pillaging. They would plunder in the region of Poland-Lithuania, and they would even come to the Black Sea coming down along Don and Dneper Rivers and the coasts of Anatolia. The Russian merchants travelling between the cities of Moscow, Azov and Kefe were exposed to the attacks of these Kazakhs. The Kazakh people would move in the form of the groups composed of several thousands of people under the command of their leaders (Kazakh elected-chief) that they elected among themselves. Then, they would plunder and pillage in the neighbouring settled countries. Most of the Kazakhs on the banks of Don River were caught and killed. Some of them ran away to the regions near to Idyll and they went to the upper regions and arrived to the banks of Kama. The chief of this group was Yermak Timofeyeviç that would take the name of "Sibir conqueror" in the further periods. His original name has not been determined yet; however, it has been understood that the name of "Yermak" that was supposed to have been derived from Turkish was made up in the later periods.