[annalex]

Yes. The Russians rivers formed the “way from the Varangians to the Greeks”

[annalex]

Matter of fact, it is the trade route to the Orient that was along rivers.

Map showing the major Varangian trade routes: the Volga trade route (in red) and the Trade Route from the Varangians to the Greeks (in purple). Other trade routes of the eighth-eleventh centuries shown in orange.

Wiki

See, we found a way out of the segue back to ancient travel.

[Paladin2]

Given the proclivities of the Viking “parties”, it’s likely that some semblance their spawn are still present in the area of “passage”.