Irish Russians are Russian nationals whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Ireland. Migration occurred in the context of conflicts in Eastern Europe: the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18), Ingrian War and Thirty Years' War.
The first known Irish people who resided in Russia were part of a company that, during the Polish–Russian War (1605–18), was part of a regiment under the command of Wilim Grim. Later, captain-Rittmeister Jacob Shaw switched sides. In 1614 they left the fortress of Bely to join Russian forces.[1][2] The regiment participated in several Russo-Crimean Wars against the Crimean–Nogai raids.[3][page needed][4][page needed] In 1626, all foreign mercenaries received Russian names, and after converting to Orthodox Christianity they received material benefits (typically lands with serfs or rubles and clothes). [citation needed]