The first map to feature Russky Island was published in Russia in 1859, although only the western and northern shores of the island were shown. It became a part of the Russian Empire the following year in 1860 after the Convention of Peking, when it was ceded by Qing China as part of the region unofficially known as Outer Manchuria. The island was named Russky Island, meaning "Russian Island", by Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky, the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia. The island was charted in its entirety by an expedition lead by the cartographer Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Babkin in 1862, as part of the survey of Peter the Great gulf after its acquisition. A map featuring the whole island was published in 1865 with the name Kazakevich Island, in honour of Petr Kazakevich, the military governor of Primorskaya Oblast. Russky Island and Kazakevich Island was both used interchangeably until after World War II, when it was permanently changed to only Russky Island.