Factbook: Russkya, People's Socialist Republic of

[Russkya]

The People's Socialist Republic of Russkya

Table of Contents:
1) Statistics & Geography
2) A General History of Russkya
3) Politics: Political Figures, Organizations and Foreign Relations
4) Overseas Activity: Political, Economic, and Military
5) The Russkyan Military
6) Cultural Overview, What to Expect, Symbolism and Heritage

[Russkya]

Statistics and Geography.

Location, Region: Socialist Federative Republics
Map References: Socialist Federative Republics Regional Map, Version 12.0.
Borders:

- North: Sorachoak (Currently a Spazjenian-controlled territory.)
- East: Zuiderzee Ocean
- West: Tsyentralnoye Morye Inland Sea
- South: The People's Republic of Me'i

Climate: Predominantly Temperate with minor seasonal tropical zones along the Southern border and subarctic zones along the Northern border.
Terrain: Gently undulating terrain (Steppe), primeval temperate forest, seasonal rainforest, taiga, marshland, foothills, mountain ranges along the heavily indented Western Coast.
Elevation Extremes: 0m (Tsyentralnoye Morye & Zuiderzee), 6,857m (Bolshaya Gorya)

Population

Total Population: 6.32 Billion
Age Structure:
- 0-14 Years: 17.0%
- 15-55 Years: 70.75%
- 55+ Years: 13.25%
Life Expectancies at Birth:
- Male: 82.83 Years
- Female: 84.86 Years
Fertility Rates:
- 1.72 Children per Woman
Nationality:
Noun: Russkyan
Plural: Russkyans
Ethnic Groups:
- Slav: 70%
- Norse: 14%
- Germanic: 4.5%
- Celtic: 5%
- Anglo-Saxon: 3.5%
- Other: 3%
Religions:
- Russian Orthodoxy: 49%
- "Old Beliefs": 12%
- Buddhism: 13%
- Aetheist: 26%
Languages:
- Russkyan, Primary Dialect: 79%
- Other (Old Norse, Russian, Ukrainian, Spazjenian, Kilrany, English, Celtic, German): 21%
Note that bilingualism or even trilingualism is exceedingly common.
Literacy:
Definition: Age 12 and over can read and write.
Percentage of Population: 100%

Brief Political Overview:
Country Name:
- Conventional Long Form: The People's Socialist Republic of Russkya
- Conventional Short Form: Russkya
- Conventional Abbreviation: PSR Russkya
Government Type:
- Democratic Socialism
Capital: Berisak
Administrative Divisions: Five Provinces (Oblastii): Central, North, West, East, South.
Suffrage: 18 Years of Age, Universal.
Primary Unit of Currency: Russkyari
Flag Description: The traditional national flag was raised to commemorate the reinstatement of the Skolchoi as the primary governing body of Russkya. It consists of a two headed white eagle on a green background, with a black field featuring a golden rune in center.

[Russkya]

The territory identifiable as modern-day Russkya was initially colonized by two large bands of Slavic nomads in 768 A.D. Travelling down the massive Kala River, they founded a settlement on a rise overlooking large fields excellent for agriculture and backed by a primeval forest at the join of the Kala and Norava Rivers. Forty years later, small bands of Norse colonists landed and established a small settlement in 808 A.D. on the North-Eastern Coastline of Russkya, taking the smallest of the three major rivers, the Kolma, to where it joined with the Kala River. Heading downstream from there, contact was first made with the Slavs in 812 A.D, where a mutually beneficial trade relationship was immediately established.

Between 850 and 975 A.D, Russkya - now identifying itself as such and its inhabitants as Russkyans - experienced a population explosion. Intermarriage and cultural assimilation absorbed the "Russkyan Norse" demographic completely, although those who are descended from the Russkyan Norse often opted to name their children with distinctive Old Norse names, a practice that continues to the modern day. The major cities of Kalalgrad, Magnitosibersk, Nizhny Magnitosibersk, and Krasnograd were established and soon had populations numbering in the hundred thousands. The historically important township of Taganrog was also established at this time.

The heavily populated areas of Russkya were still completely viable, as the environmentally robust nation boasted nearly unlimited land suitable for farming, all soil South of Nizhny Magnitosibersk being the dark black loam known as "Chernozem," ideally suited for the growing of all crops. Thick primeval forests covered nearly 50% of the land as well, and the shared agricultural knowledge of the Russkyan Slavs and the Russkyan Norse allowed for a very prosperous nation to develop. These heavily populated areas were predominantly located along the Kala and Kolma Rivers, the Slavs and Norse preferring to stay to heavily wooded terrain.

Geographic isolation from mainland Russia and Ukraine prevented the spread of Russian Orthodoxy. The combined pagan Rus and Norse mythos created a diverse pantheon of Gods and rich traditions identified today as "The Old Beliefs" by a now predominantly Russian Orthodox society. Even in the modern era, these "Old Beliefs" remain a strong religious demographic in Russkya. Bordering the Asiatic nation of Me'i, Buddhism spread throughout the Southern regions, mixing with the "Old Beliefs" and influencing the Russkyans living in these border areas. Due to brutal cross-border raids by the populace of Me'i, referred to as the Me'ei, a strong xenophobic tendancy arose in the Russkyan people, strengthened by tales of the Mongol Khans and especially the "Golden Horde" brought by Slav immigrants to the new land of Russkya.

In 1227, the first recorded band of Cossacks was discovered by the Russkyans on the Western banks of the Norava River. Peaceful contact was established and the Cossack Sichs grew exponentially, soon habitating the Western and Northern Steppes from the Norava River to the Western Mountains and expanding Southwards and Eastwards. The Cossack culture meshed easily with the beliefs of the Russkyan populace and a second population explosion occurred in which sufficient numbers of people were, for the first time, available to more or less evenly colonize the entirety of Russkyan territory. In 1568, a strong raiding party of Sorachoakai, hailing from the nation of Sorachoak to Russkya's immediate North, reached and burned large portions of Nizhny Magnitosibersk. The Cossacks, in love with their new homeland and fellow Russkyans, agreed fully with the Skolchoi's plans to build a network of defensive forts along the Northern border and to have roving "battalions" of Cossack riders travel the expanses between. This era of Cossack introduction to Russia lasted nearly five centuries, until approximately 1730.

The Russkyan Cossacks hail from the Don, Volga, Cherkass, Yaik (Ural), Ukrainian, Slobodsk, and Zaporozhian "Sichii." The Cossacks who found themselves in Russkya differ from their Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish counterparts in that there was no distinction amongst them between "Free" and "Town" Cossacks, they were simply "Russkyan Cossacks." Four major groups, also referred to as Sich, arose in Russkya. These were the Kala, Kolma, Taganrog, and Gorvoitye. Their continuous patrolling gave rise to a second Russkyan language, a dialect referred to now as "Old Russkyan," influenced heavily from various sources encountered along the Russkyan borders until it resembled Russkyan in only a few pieces of vocabulary, rhythm and sound only. Now, knowledge of "Old Russkyan" is strictly controlled as the language is used by the Russkyan Special Operations and Intelligence communities.

It is often difficult for foreigners to understand how strongly influenced the Russkyans were by the arrival of Cossacks, and how impressed the Cossacks were with the non-totalitarian system they found in Russkya. Both groups were quick to earn the other's loyalty and respect, and the merging of these cultures in effect created a "New Russkyan Culture." Anything prior to 1227 is referred to by historians as the "Pre Cossack Era." This alone would indicate to the scholar the sheer scale of Cossack influence on Russkya.

Russkyan Government from its founding to 1750 consisted of the "Skolchoi," a military council advised by a number of "Free Merchants" - these latter being merchants who could be trusted not to bias the Skolchoi in favour of actions that could benefit their businesses - and other specialists, to include those familiar with ore extraction, agriculture, religion, et cetera.

By 1750, Russkya had become an area of interest to the Russian Empire. In 1762, on the orders of Tsar Peter III, Russkya was invaded and briefly subjugated by the full might of the Russian Empire. This begins what is referred to as the "Tsarist Decade," in which (1763-1773) Tsar Peter III crushed the Skolchoi, forcing it underground, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Russkyans, especially the Russkyan Norse and Russkyan Cossacks, forced Russian Orthodoxy onto the people removing the freedom of choice they had experienced before, and maintained a heavy handed rule over the territory until his death. With Catherine the Great's ascension to power in Russkya, the Russkyans revolted, surviving Russkyan Cossacks leading the way. Fearing to be mired in yet another bloodbath in Russkya, the Russians withdrew and Russkyan nationalism experienced a sharp surge, maintained until 1810.

Repairs from the "Tsarist Decade" would take a generation and relations only warmed slightly between Russkya and Russia in 1873, a full century after the end of the Tsarist Decade. For the foreigner, understanding this phenomenon is often difficult - Russkya and Russia are not entirely dissimilar, nor were they prior to the Tsarist Decade, and the Russkyan language itself bears strong resemblance to all forms of Russian. By 1810, Russkya had regained all of her former glory and more, and was in the midst of busily modernizing.

1810-1830 is referred to as the "Era of Napoleonic Influence" by historical scholars. As Germany was for the most part subjugated by France, a large number of immigrant Germans arrived in Russkya, bringing with them military expertise that formed a modern cavalry corps supplementing and to a large extent replacing the Cossacks. These highly efficient cavalry units were backed by Infantry patterned on the British model. The English, being unwilling to loan "good English officers and non-commissioned staff" to the Russkyans for training purposes, instead sent numerous Irish and Scottish officers. These Celtic officers were welcomed in Russkya, and they often settled their families there as well, which encouraged a large degree of German, Irish, and Scottish immigration. These ethnic groups were also assimilated, though not as readily as the Cossacks and Norse had been. The German Cavalry, referred to as "Nemetskaya Konitza," would later form the basis of the Russko-German Corps ("Der Russko-Deutsche Korps") and the Celts would also later form the basis of the "Russko-Celtic Corps," both experiencing their heyday between 1941-2007.

Modernized thoroughly and yet retaining much of traditional culture, Russkya entered the Modern Age (1900-Present) with head held high. The Skolchoi remained the primary governing force, "The Old Beliefs" and Russian Orthodoxy coexisted peacefully, and diplomatic and economic relations with the surrounding region and the world as a whole were good. The Russkyans did not become involved in the First World War, although a paraell conflict (also four years, from 1914-1918) did arise with the Me'ei to their South.

In 1934, Communist revolutionaries blamed the global Depression on the Skolchoi, as inaccurate and unfair as that claim was. Literally starving to death as the result of three drought years, the Russkyan populace revolted and threw out the Skolchoi, who again went underground, operating as a "shadow government" rather than fleeing to become a government in exile. Soviet Russia welcomed their "Fraternal Socialist Ally" Russkya into the Communist International, known as COMINTERN, after which record rainfalls in 1935 and 1936 reversed much of the agricultural misfortune that had befallen Russkya. Thus restored, the Russkyans, displaying all the tendancies of their Cossack heritage, began leading their own path. Stalin, preoccupied with Hitler and the more accessible world, ignored Russkya's actions as his ideological analysts assured him that "Russkyan Socialism" would soon morph into true Communism. Meanwhile, Me'i became Maoist, experiencing their own bloody civil war and a series of insurrections before the Communist Me'i rule was established firmly in 1940. Sorachoak, meanwhile, descended into a state of anarchy in which it remained until an aristocratic totalitarian form of leadership arose in 1954.

1934-1991 is referred to as the "Communist Era" in Russkyan history. Thanks to "Russkyan Socialism" rather than outright Communism, it was a rather pleasant place to live and a very strong conventional military, appropriately modernized and amongst the doctrinal leaders of Germany and Russia in new operational and tactical methods, was an item of pride for the entire COMINTERN. Drawn into the Second World War with the launch of Germany's "Operation Barbarossa," the Russko-Celtic Corps fought bravely alongside the British Commonwealth, in particular the Polish and Canadian forces. Other Russkyans fought alongside the Soviets, although their units did not take part in combat operations until 1943, beginning with the Battle of Kursk and ending with the assault on Moscow. Russkyan units left Soviet units in control of the territories they had liberated and returned to their homeland.

Up to date and actual - rather than export - versions of Soviet military hardware and other technologies were made available to Russkya, most produced domestically and surpluses exported back to the Soviet Union to stimulate economic activity within the Eastern Bloc. Russkya also became a leading agricultural center again, exporting millions of tons of grain on record harvest seasons to places such as China, Vietnam, much of "Communist Africa," and the like. When the Soviet Union disintigrated in 1991, the Politburo maintained power, transforming itself slightly to accomodate a Parliment and embracing the West, in particular the nations of Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The Russkyan Intelligence and Security Service, or RISS, quickly studied the effects of Westernization on Russkya and a brief resurgence in Russkyan nationalism soon "balanced the cultural tables" resulting in a smoothly functioning mix of Democratic Russkyan Socialism, traditional and new Western values.

With the end of the Soviet Era, Russkya maintained its independance and repaired the damages done to it by Communism. Mostly ecologically recovered, as the damages were slight, Russkya entered peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia in 1992, withdrawing in disgust in 1994 after two years of dealing with the United Nation's utter ineffectiveness. A large number of Bosnian and Serbian immigrants relocated to Russkya, most of whom carried on to the neighbouring nation of the FLRJ, to Russkya's North-West. Those who remained in Russkya learned to coexist peacefully or would otherwise be exiled.
This period also saw a sharp decline in the populations of Russko-Germans and Russko-Celts, immigrating back to their various homelands as the Iron Curtain came down fully in 1991. Surprisingly, despite having supported the Communists in Africa as part of the Eastern Bloc, a number of caucasian Rhodesian and Afrikaan immigrants arrived in Russkya during this period as their respective homelands were transformed by new politicians.

In addition to the consistently strong relations with the Empire of Kilrany and the Kingdom of Spazjenia, strong diplomatic relations were established after 2005 with the United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland, the National Socialist Republic of Aequatio, the Republic of Estovakia, and a half-dozen other nations and republics. 2006 saw the "2006 Sorachoak Campaign," commencing in June of that year and ending on November 2nd of the same year, which effectively ceased attempted Sorachoakai raiding into Russkya that had emerged as a consistent problem since 2001 and placed the area under Spazjenian control. In late March of 2007, Russkyan military forces intervened in the FLRJ Civil War, bringing that conflict to a close in favour of the Republicans. Afterwards, with the election of a new Prime Minister, Zhao Rong'ji, relations between Me'i and Russkya cooled once again.

On the 10 October 2008, the Transitionary Flag was lowered and replaced with the pre-Communist National Colours. This signalled the end of the Post-Soviet Era and the beginning of the Modern Era, marked with deep cooperation with the Empire of Kilrany, the National Socialist Republic of Aequatio, the United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland, and combat operations on the Stovakian Peninsula and elsewheres in the world. The purchase of a great number of expensive weapon systems from the Russian Federation gained Russkya favoured nation status with the Russians, and cooperation between the two nations is expected to rise as time passes.

[Russkya]

Politics: Political Figures, Organizations and Foreign Relations

Skolchoi Members & Advisors, in order of seniority:

- Prime Minister: Vasily Andreyevich Berko
- Prime Advisor: Rinat Valerievich Shtemenko
- Defence Minister: Mikhail Filipovich Bezdidko / - Minister of the Interior & Foreign Affairs: Viktor Klimentievich Govak
- Minister of Internal Affairs: Sergei A. Korakov
- Prime Economic Advisor (Ministerial Post): Alexei D. Ladmilin
- Cultural & Educational Advisor (Ministerial Post): Georgei Z. Kolbukhin
- Mineral Resources & Agricultural Advisor (Ministerial Post): Ivan K. Slushbayetov / - Industrial Advisor (Ministerial Post): Oleg N. Ramenski
- Parlimentary Representatives: Vika T. Mikhailovna, Chakan A. Sovstyeb, Anyuta S. Slavskaya
Advisors: Mikhail Sergetov, Igor Krushamev.

Notes: Defence Minister & Minister of the Interior & Foreign Affairs, as well as Mineral Resources & Agricultural Advisor and the Industrial Advisor are all equivalent in seniority/rank.

[Russkya]

Embassies Abroad:
- United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland.
- The Grand Duchy of Van Luxemburg. [Ambassador: Polina Valentinova]
- Empire of Kilrany. [Ambassador: Sergei Foraan]
- Kingdom of Spazjenia.
- Armed Republic of Koenwitz. (Koenburg, 2 Horseshoe Drive) [Ambassador: Anton Pisaryev]
- Empire of Elloris. (Mala, No. 9 Foreign Lane) [Ambassador: Viktor Chyervikov]
- The Realm of Cotland. [Ambassador: Vyecheslav sonr Gísmundar]
- Empire of Diggledom

Embassies Domestic:
- United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland.
- The Grand Duchy of Van Luxemburg. [Ambassador: Matthias Dresner. Economic Attaché: Siri Holm]
- Empire of Kilrany. [Ambassador: Natalia Isinbayeva]
- Kingdom of Spazjenia.
- Strolenko.
- Sparten.
- Germania.
- Armed Republic of Koenwitz
- Empire of Elloris [Ambassador: Charles DaMei]
- The Realm of Cotland [Ambassador: Endre Gormssønn]
- Empire of Diggledom

Alliances:
- None at present.

National Defence Contractors:
- Russkyan Military Supplemental Manufacturing Corporation (RMSMC)
- Taganrog Combat Sidearms (TgoVP)
- Kuzmach-Mikhailov Automatic Weapons Facility (KUZMIKPULFAB)
- Velikh & Kutuzov Naval Yards
- High Seas Combatant Shipyard
- Isselmere Motor Works, Land Defence Systems
- Royal Shipyards of Isselmere-Nieland (Partnered Yard in Russkya: Russkya Hydrotechnics)
- Aequatian Military Industries
- Havenic Trading Company

[Russkya]

An Overview of the Russkyan Military and its Service Branches.

The Russkyan Military is subdivided into a series of service branches, equal in status but unequal in seniority. The most senior of all service branches is the Russkyan Army (RA) whose lineage as an organized military force hails from the Kolma Sich, first established in 1232. This is followed by the Russkyan Navy (RVMF), whose first formal warship was the Voin-ulf, built in 1253. The Russkyan Air Force (RVVS) was not founded until much later, No. 1 Squadron dating from 3 October 1916.

The RA's longest lived Regiments are the First Regiment of Foot, established in 1702, and the First Cavalry Regiment, issued their colours in the same year. Currently, these formations are No. 1 Infantry Regiment (Guards, Russkyan Combat Unit Commendation [1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1962, 2005]) and No. 1 Armour Regiment "Valerii Markevich" (Guards, RCUC 1942, 1943, 1945, 1962, 2005]).
Quasi-independant Cossack formations fell under RA command between 1500-Modern, and during their comparatively brief existence, both Independant Corps did as well.

As once described by Kontr-Admiral Jurgen. P. Nemetsky, "Anything that floats" is under the RVMF's purview. The RVMF fought in both World Wars and during the 1962 Border War with Me'i, earning numerous commendations and working alongside the Royal Navy, Soviet Navy, and Royal Canadian Navy. Currently the pride of the fleet are the new Project 1269 battleships, the lead vessel being RNV-831 Norseman. The highly respected Russkyan Naval Infantry (MORPEH) are under the Fleet's command.

RVVS distinguishes itself from the Soviet Air Force (VVS) in being a significantly smaller force for much of its history. Rapid expansion in 1953 with the addition of twenty new Wings under four Aviation Fronts was completed by 1958, and four years later this force was tested heavily during the Border War with Me'i in 1962. No. 38 Squadron earned the Russkyan Combat Unit Commendation (RCUC) in the famed "Kolberkh's Bridge" air battle, where a staggering 63 Me'i People's Air Force of Liberation (PAFL) fighters and fighter-bombers were shot down, accounting for half of 38 Squadron's final tally of 127 victories in the 1962 Border War.

Other service branches include the Strategic Rocket Forces, Strategic Missile Command, and Central Military Intelligence Group.

[Russkya]

Reserved No. 6