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=== 21st Century ===
=== 21st Century ===
[[File:2006 Volkgoroda bombing memorial.png|left|thumb|180x180px|A memorial to victims of the [[2006 Volkgoroda bombings]], located outside the Stefan Gurkovsky metro station.]]
[[File:2006 Volkgoroda bombing memorial.png|left|thumb|180x180px|A memorial to victims of the [[2006 Volkgoroda bombings]], located outside the Stefan Gurkovsky metro station.]]
Volkia entered the 21st Century rather quietly, with minimal societal and general unrest. The ruling Social Democratic Union (SDU) continued its dominance in Volkian politics into the new millennium with few signs of losing power. With the arrival of the millennium, Volkia began seeing a rise in what would go on to be described as new religious cults. Federal and provincial authorities combatted this growing trend among disillusioned youths and elderly people through the media and educational programs. The [[Lunarism|Lunarist Church]] joined with the government in trying to prevent vulnerable individuals from joining new religious cults. Those cults considered dangerous were met with law enforcement action, which ranged from arresting cult leaders to full-blown raids on cult compounds.
Volkia entered the 21st Century rather quietly, with minimal societal and general unrest. The ruling Social Democratic Union (SDU) continued its dominance in Volkian politics into the new millennium with few signs of losing power. With the arrival of the millennium, Volkia began seeing a rise in what would go on to be described as new religious cults. Federal and provincial authorities combatted this growing trend among disillusioned youths and elderly people through the media and educational programs. The [[Lunarism|Lunarist Church]] joined with the government in trying to prevent vulnerable individuals from joining new religious movements with some success. Those cults considered dangerous were met with law enforcement action, which ranged from arresting cult leaders to full-blown raids on cult compounds.


The "Cult Wars" would continue on into the mid-2000s and the new religious cult known as [[Yarkiye]], responded to the crackdown on "dangerous groups" with the [[2006 Volkgoroda bombings|deadliest terrorist attack on Volkian soil]]. Yarkiye's leaders were arrested, tried, and convicted for their roles in the attacks and, as of 2021, are awaiting execution. The bombings inadvertently led to a dramatic decrease in new religious cult membership and by 2009, the number of groups identified as new religious cults had dropped from nearly 2,000 to 302. Yarkiye would go on to be designated as a terrorist organization, which allowed for almost unchecked law enforcement action against the group.
The "Cult Wars" would continue on into the mid-2000s and the new religious cult known as [[Yarkiye]], responded to the crackdown on "dangerous groups" with the [[2006 Volkgoroda bombings|deadliest terrorist attack on Volkian soil]]. Yarkiye's leaders were arrested, tried, and convicted for their roles in the attacks and, as of 2021, are awaiting execution. The bombings inadvertently led to a dramatic decrease in new religious movement membership and by 2009, the number of groups identified as cults had dropped from nearly 2,000 to 302. Their numbers further declined into the 2020s, with only 112 groups identified as of December 2021. Yarkiye would go on to be designated as a terrorist organization, which allowed for almost unchecked law enforcement action against the group.
Volkia entered the [[Dverian War]] on May 11, 2014 in support of Tano after the activation of the countries' bilateral defense agreements, and opened its borders to accept a large number of Tano refugees. President [[Zakhar Kreskov|Kreskov]] ordered Volkian troops into Tano on May 12, 2014 and Volkian generals drew up invasion plans of Dveria proper. Volkian troops engaged Dverian troops for the first time on May 13, 2014 in eastern Tano; while a minor skirmish, it resulted in the [[Lavr Okladnikov|first Volkian soldier to be killed in combat]] since 1953. Volkia helped bring the war to a rapid close, helping establish a democratic government in the north shortly after the declaration of the Eldura-backed nation of [[South Dveria]].[[File:T-99 Molotok MBT.jpg|thumb|265x265px|Volkian [[T-99 Molotok|T-99 Molotok 2R6s]] in eastern [[Tano]] during the [[Dverian War]].]]
Volkia entered the [[Dverian War]] on May 11, 2014 in support of Tano after the activation of the countries' bilateral defense agreements, and opened its borders to accept a large number of Tano refugees. President [[Zakhar Kreskov|Kreskov]] ordered Volkian troops into Tano on May 12, 2014 and Volkian generals drew up invasion plans of Dveria proper. Volkian troops engaged Dverian troops for the first time on May 13, 2014 in eastern Tano; while a minor skirmish, it resulted in the [[Lavr Okladnikov|first Volkian soldier to be killed in combat]] since 1953. Volkia helped bring the war to a rapid close, helping establish a democratic government in the north shortly after the declaration of the Eldura-backed nation of [[South Dveria]].[[File:T-99 Molotok MBT.jpg|thumb|265x265px|Volkian [[T-99 Molotok|T-99 Molotok 2R2s]] in eastern [[Tano]] during the [[Dverian War]].]]


Tensions between Blaskog and Volkia rose to their highest level in over 50 years when Blaskogian ships entered Volkian territorial waters on May 14, 2014, near [[Shimanovsk Oblast]], which nearly escalated into a shooting war between the two countries. Blaskog withdrew their naval forces after Volkian Navy vessels, originally en route to assist Tano in the Dverian War, returned to confront the Blaskogian ships. While it was revealed the intrusion of Volkian waters was accidental, tensions between the two countries remain high.
Tensions between Blaskog and Volkia rose to their highest level in over 50 years when Blaskogian ships entered Volkian territorial waters on May 14, 2014, near [[Shimanovsk Oblast]], which nearly escalated into a shooting war between the two countries. Blaskog withdrew their naval forces after Volkian Navy vessels, originally en route to assist Tano in the Dverian War, returned to confront the Blaskogian ships. While it was revealed the intrusion of Volkian waters was accidental, tensions between the two countries remain high.
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''Main article: [[Volkian Defense Forces]]''
''Main article: [[Volkian Defense Forces]]''


The president holds the title of [[Wikipedia:Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] of the Volkian Defense Forces and appoints its leaders: the [[Cabinet of Volkia|Minister of National Defense]] and the [[General Staff of the Defense Forces of Volkia|General Staff]]. The [[Ministry of National Defense]] administers the armed forces, which is divided into the [[Volkian Army|Army]], [[Volkian Navy|Navy]], and the [[Volkian Air Force|Air Force]]. The number of active duty soldiers in 2020 was 323,018. The Reserves and [[Volkian National Guard|National Guard]] brought the total number of troops to 570,217. The Ministry of National Defense additionally employed 55,000 civilians, not including contractors in 2020. Volkia's annual military budget in 2021 is $71.8 billion, or 1.65% of its GDP. In absolute terms, Volkian military expenditure is the [[List of countries by military expenditure|11th highest in the world]].
The president holds the title of [[Wikipedia:Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] of the Volkian Defense Forces and appoints its leaders: the [[Cabinet of Volkia|Minister of National Defense]] and the [[General Staff of the Defense Forces of Volkia|General Staff]]. The [[Ministry of National Defense (Volkia)|Ministry of National Defense]] administers the armed forces, which is divided into the [[Volkian Army|Army]], [[Volkian Navy|Navy]], and the [[Volkian Air Force|Air Force]]. The number of active duty soldiers in 2020 was 323,018. The Reserves and [[Volkian National Guard|National Guard]] brought the total number of troops to 570,217. The Ministry of National Defense additionally employed 55,000 civilians, not including contractors in 2020. Volkia's annual military budget in 2021 is $71.8 billion, or 1.65% of its GDP. In absolute terms, Volkian military expenditure is the [[List of countries by military expenditure|11th highest in the world]].


Military service is voluntary though conscription can be implemented in times of "national crisis when the voluntary force has been overwhelmed." This is done through the [[Emergency Conscription System]], which provides a list of military aged Volkian males to the Ministry of National Defense. Volkian males are required to register in this system from ages 18 to 26.
Military service is voluntary though conscription can be implemented in times of "national crisis when the voluntary force has been overwhelmed." This is done through the Emergency Conscription System, which provides a list of military aged Volkian males to the Ministry of National Defense. Volkian males are required to register in this system from ages 18 to 26, with penalties for failure to register.


Volkian nuclear deterrence relies on complete independence. The current Volkian nuclear force consists of five ''Avangard'' class and two ''Zashchitnik'' class submarines equipped with {{Wp|submarine-launched ballistic missiles}}. In addition to the submarine fleet, the country maintains approximately 250 land based ballistic missiles in nuclear silos and on mobile launchers. Roughly 100 medium-range air-to-ground missiles loaded with nuclear warheads make up Volkia's air based nuclear weapons, 75 of which are deployed by the Volkian Air Force while 25 are deployed by the Volkian Navy via aircraft launched from the country's two aircraft carriers.
Volkian nuclear deterrence relies on complete independence. The current Volkian nuclear force consists of five ''Avangard'' class and two ''Zashchitnik'' class submarines equipped with {{Wp|submarine-launched ballistic missiles}}. In addition to the submarine fleet, the country maintains approximately 150 land based ballistic missiles in nuclear silos and on mobile launchers. Roughly 50 medium-range air-to-ground missiles loaded with nuclear warheads make up Volkia's air based nuclear weapons, 38 of which are deployed by the Volkian Air Force while 12 are deployed by the Volkian Navy via aircraft launched from the country's two aircraft carriers.


The country maintains a classified amount of chemical and biological weapons, with known agents including {{wp|Tabun (nerve agent)|tabun}}, {{wp|sarin}}, {{wp|ricin}}, and {{wp|botulinum toxin|botulinum}}. The Volkian government has stated that it is exploring options to destroy the country's chemical and biological agent stockpile, though it would maintain its nuclear arsenal. Volkian defense doctrine states that the country's weapons of mass destruction are for homeland defense only; the country would only use its WMDs in extraordinary circumstances.
The country maintains a classified amount of chemical and biological weapons, with known agents including {{wp|Tabun (nerve agent)|tabun}}, {{wp|sarin}}, {{wp|ricin}}, and {{wp|botulinum toxin|botulinum}}. The Volkian government has stated that it is exploring options to destroy the country's chemical and biological agent stockpile, though it would maintain its nuclear arsenal. Volkian defense doctrine states that the country's weapons of mass destruction are for homeland defense only; the country would only use its WMDs in extraordinary circumstances.