Answer
The Russian Interest in Siberia was ignited by Yermak Timofeyevich's successful conquests of the Siberian Khanate in the late 16th century. His victories paved the way for Russian explorers, fur traders, and settlers to venture into the vast Siberian territories, marking the beginning of Russia's eastward expansion and colonization of Siberia, which significantly influenced the region's history and shaped its demographics, economy, and geopolitical dynamics.