For Matvey, the life of a Cossack full of hardships and dangers became reality. The interests of the state don’t always align with the good of its citizens—especially those who serve it faithfully. That’s why Matvey had to leave everything and go where the empire’s interests required his presence. This journey turned out to be far more difficult than it seemed at first, because their route led through the uninhabited hills of the Middle East, where Europeans long ago had become enemies to local residents.