Ivan Vyrodkov's name was first mentioned in 1538. It is known that he participated in Ivan the Terrible's military campaigns against Kazan, during the Russo-Kazan Wars. In 1551, Ivan Vyrodkov was in charge of the construction of Sviyazhsk - a wooden fortress near Kazan that he would build in 28 days. This would serve as a strong point for the capture of the city by the Muscovite army.