Volkia

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Volkian Federative Republic Волкскийская Федеративная Республика
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Мы всегда свободны." "We are always free."
Anthem: "Nasha Rodina" "Our Motherland"
Volkian Federative Republic (dark green) -in Itur (green)
Capital and largest city	Volkgoroda
Official languages	Volkian
Ethnic groups (2019)	98.7% Volkian lupine 0.6% Vulpine 0.6% Human 0.1% Other
Demonym(s)	Volkian
Government	Federal presidential constitutional republic
• President	Yuliya Surkova
• Vice President	Vladimir Burmakin
• Chairman of the Chamber	Kiril Zhutov
• Chief Justice	Yuliya Danilova
Legislature	National Assembly
• Upper house	Federal Council
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Formation
• Grand Duchy	365
• Grand Principality	November 9, 1154
• Kingdom	July 8, 1577
• Federation	April 17, 1888
• Current constitution	March 2, 1974
Area
• Total	1,396,700 km2 (539,300 sq mi)
• Water (%)	5.2%
Population
• 2019 estimate	80,239,160
• 2012 census	75,464,183
• Density	57.45/km2 (148.8/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$4.12 trillion
• Per capita	$51,346.50
Gini (2019)	27.1 low
SDI (2019)	0.889 very high
Currency	Korona (Ӄ) (VOK)
Time zone	UTC+4, +5
Date format	MM/DD/YYY
Driving side	right
Calling code	+57
ISO 3166 code	VOL
Internet TLD	.vol

Volkia (Volkian: Волкия, tr. Volkiya), officially the Volkian Federative Republic (Volkian: Волкскийская Федеративная Республика, tr. Volkskiyskaya Federativnaya Respublika), is a country situated on the western part of the continent of Itur, with a population of approximately 80.2 million as of 2019. Volkgoroda is the capital and largest city; other major urban areas include Kursavka, Georgiyevsk, Volsk, Zarinsk, Likhoslavl, Kataysk, and Zuyevka.

Volkia is located on the entirety of the western half of the continent of Itur, and shares a land border with the South Hills to the northeast and Kurikia to the southeast. The Mahigan Sea lies to the north, the Iturian Sea to the southwest, and the Gulf of Itur to the south. Volkia includes 26 administrative divisions that span across an area of 1,396,000 square kilometers (539,268 sq mi) with a largely boreal climate. The southern parts of the country are largely hemiboreal while the northern parts of the country show characteristics of hemiboreal, boreal, and tundra climates.

As the birthplace of the lupine species, modern Volkia has been inhabited by various tribes since antiquity. The current capital and largest city, Volkgoroda, was founded during a second set of migrations to the coasts as a stopping point in the 2nd Century. By the 4th Century, some lupine territories around Volkgoroda had been consolidated and formed the Grand Duchy of Volkgoroda. The Grand Duchy continued to expand militarily and economically, eventually declaring the Grand Principality of Volkia in 1154. The Kingdom of Volkia rose in 1578 following territorial acquisitions and growing economic and military dominance on the continent. The Volkian revolutions of 1884-1888 led to significant democratic rights.

The monarchy was dismantled in 1888 and was replaced by a federation made up of the former provinces of the Kingdom of Volkia. Growing corruption and economic instability in the late 1960s and early 1970s destabilized the country, leading to widespread incidents of civil resistance which resulted in the amendment of the constitution.

Today, the sovereign state of Volkia is a federal constitutional republic led by a president. It is a highly developed nation with a very high standard of living, and maintains a strong social security and universal healthcare system, environmental protection, and tuition free university.

Etymology

The name Volkiya is derived from the name of the ancient Volkiplemeni, one of four western Iturian lupine tribes (along with Yekarians, Vyalovians, and Orlikians) which formed the ethnic core of modern Volkians. Volkiya came into use to refer to the land populated by the Volkiplemeni which is part of modern day Zhukovsky Oblast, Baksansky Oblast, Abarsk Oblast, and Volkgoroda Oblast in 1154 with the creation of the Grand Principality of Volkia.

History

Prehistory

Archaeological finds uncovered in the Silver Caves located in Zhukovsky Oblast revealed that the lupines inhabited Itur at least around 120-130,000 years ago, though it is believed that they have inhabited Itur for far longer. These lupines left behind artifacts that present characteristics common with artifacts found throughout Volkia. The earliest lupines were hunter-gatherers who used stone tools.

Iron and bronze swords found in central Volkia.

The first pottery appeared in 12,000 BCE, and the Cord Pottery culture rose between 2500 BCE and 2000 BCE. It is believed that the rise of the Cord Pottery culture coincided with the start of agriculture. Hunting and fishing remained a key part of the subsistence economy even as agriculture was introduced.

The Bronze Age brought about year-round cultivation and animal husbandry that rapidly spread along the coasts, though the colder climate in the northern reaches of Volkia slowed the change. Cultures in Volkia shared common features in their pottery and tools, but local features existed. Commercial contacts that had so far been local lupine tribes in Volkia extended to the rest of Itur and Yasteria, which brought in bronze artifacts between 2100 BCE and 1900 BCE. Domestic manufacture of bronze artifacts started in 1700 BCE with the introduction of Zalari-style bronze axes.

The Iron Age saw a massive expansion of population across Volkia, especially in modern Zhukovsky Oblast. Cultural contacts to the rest of Itur and Yasteria became more frequent. Commercial contacts throughout the Gulf of Itur grew and extended during the 7th and 8th centuries.

Main exports from Volkia were furs, precious metals, and castoreum to nations in Yasteria. Imports included silk and other fabrics, and, to a lesser extent, glass. Domestic production of iron began in 700 BCE.

At the end of the 3rd Century, indigenous artifact culture - especially in women's jewelry and weaponry - had more similar features than ever before. This has been interpreted as expressing a common Volkian identity which was born from an image of common origin.

Grand Duchy of Volkia

According

Politics

Governance

See also: Constitution of Volkia

Political system of the Volkian Federative Republic.

The country is a federation and a presidential constitutional republic, where the president is both head of state and government. In the Volkian federalist system, citizens are subject to three levels of government: federal, provincial, and local. The local government's duties are commonly split between raion and municipal governments. In almost all cases, executive and legislative officials are elected by a plurality vote of citizens by district. There is no proportional representation at the federal level, and it is very rare at lower levels. The Volkian Federative Republic is fundamentally structured as a multi-party representative democracy, with the federal government composed of three branches that regulate each other by a system of checks and balances:

• Executive: The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces, can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the Government of Volkia (Cabinet) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies.
• Legislative: The bicameral National Assembly, made up of the Federal Council and the Chamber of Deputies, makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment, by which it can remove sitting members of the government.
• Judiciary: The Federal Supreme Court and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Federal Council, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional.

The president is elected by popular vote for a four year term (eligible for a second term, but not a third term).

The Chamber of Deputies has 472 voting members, each representing an electoral district for a two year term. Seats are apportioned among the provinces by population every eight years and, if necessary, seats are added to the Chamber of Deputies. Seats are added, if necessary, following the conclusion of the National Census that occurs every eight years. At the 16th National Census taken in 2012 Kurilsk Oblast, the least populous province, had one representative while Zhukovsky Oblast, the most populous province, had 34. The Federal Council has 78 voting members with each oblast having three, elected at-large to six-year terms; one third of Federal Council seats are up for election every other year.

The Federal Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice of Volkia, has twelve members who serve for life. The Chief Justice is selected by the President and confirmed by the Federal Council.

The oblast governments are structured in a roughly similar fashion. The governor (chief executive) of each province is directly elected. Some provincial judges and cabinet officers are appointed by the governors of the respective provinces, while others are elected by popular vote.

Foreign relations

The foreign relations of Volkia are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry is currently headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Skorobogatov.

Volkia maintains diplomatic relations with nearly all independent nations, and hosts a multitude of foreign embassies in its capital. It is a largely neutral country, though in recent years the country has participated in military engagements near Volkian territory and is a founding member of the Kerilo Accord. Even so, the nation leans towards independence in foreign policy.

Military

Main article: Volkian Defense Forces

File:J-10.jpg

The Pasternak Aerospace J-10 Fang is the backbone of Volkian airpower.

The president holds the title of commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and appoints its leaders, the Minister of National Defense and the General Staff. The Ministry of National Defense administers the armed forces, which is divided into the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. The Coast Guard is a part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The number of active duty soldiers in 2014 was 277,965. The Reserves and National Guard brought the total number of troops to 481,754. Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense employed 75,000 civilians, not including contractors in 2014.

Military service is voluntary, though conscription may occur "when a crisis has overwhelmed the voluntary military force", through the Emergency Draft System. Forces can be rapidly deployed through the extensive transport aircraft fleet of the Air Force, or through the three aircraft carriers currently in service with the Navy.

In 2014 Volkia signed the Kerilo Accord, a military partnership with the nations of South Hills, Vekaiyu, and Listonia following the end of the 2014 Dverian War. Following the establishment of the Republic of North Dveria, the Defense Forces maintain an undisclosed number of troops in the country to assist and train the security forces.

Political divisions

Main Article: Administrative divisions of Volkia

See Also: List of Volkian oblasts by population

Volkia is a federation comprised of 26 oblasts. Oblasts are further divided into raions for administrative purposes while Volkgoroda Oblast is divided into wards.

Provinces hold all power not delegated to the federal government according to the Constitution. This means that they must have a representative, republican style of government, obey the Constitution, as well as remain subordinate to the federal government. They are not allowed to unilaterally secede from the federation. Beyond this, they are fully autonomous: they ratify their own constitutions, freely organize their local governments (in accordance with the Constitution), and own and manage their own natural and financial resources. Every province has a bicameral legislature, similar to that of the federal legislature.

Law enforcement, judiciary, and crime

Main article: Law enforcement in Volkia

Law enforcement in Volkia is generally the responsibility of local police and sheriff's departments, with provincial police providing broader services. The Volkgoroda Metropolitan Police Department, which serves the Volkgoroda metropolitan area, is the largest in the country. Federal agencies like the Federal Investigative Agency (FSA) and the have specialized duties, including protecting civil rights, investigating federal and international crimes, and protecting national security. At the federal level and in every province, the legal systems operate on common law. Provincial courts conduct most criminal trials; federal courts handle certain designated crimes as well as certain appeals from the provincial criminal courts. Plea bargaining is very common; the vast majority of criminal cases in the country are settled by plea bargain rather than jury trial.

Judiciary

Main article: Judiciary of Volkia

Volkia's judiciary is the system of courts responsible for interpreting and applying Volkian law. The Volkian legal system is based on common law, and employs an adversarial system for determining the outcome of cases.

Crime statistics

Main article: Crime in Volkia

Geography

Volkia is situated on the western half of the continent of Itur, providing an extensive coastline with numerous bays and inlets. Mountains are plentiful in northern and northeastern Volkia, made up of the Sigyachov Mountain Range. The highest point can be found in this mountain range; Vysoki Mountain is 14,002 ft (4,268 m) above sea level. The number of islets and islands are estimated to be some 5,712 (including those in lakes). Two of the largest islands in Volkia are Shimanovsk and Khorovstrov, which make up Shimanovsk Oblast.

Volkia has over 1,300 lakes. Most of them are very small, with the largest being Lake Chisvoda in the north of the country. There are also many rivers. The longest of them are the Volk River, Degot, and Sosna. Numerous fens and bogs populate the northern half of the country, while the south holds most of the country's cultivated land.

Biodiversity

The gray wolf, Volkia's national animal

The golden eagle, Volkia's national bird

The vast majority of Volkia falls under two ecoregions: the Iturian boreal and Yekarian mixed forests. Volkia's north is mostly covered by boreal forests from the northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Kologorsk Oblast. On the southern coast and within some of the interior, forests are generally characterized by mixed forests. In the extreme north, notably Norindzhik Oblast and Kurilsk Oblast, Volkian Montane Birch forests occur near the treeline and Mahigan Sea.

Volkia also has an extensive and diverse range of fauna. There are at least 70 native mammalian species, 250 breeding bird species, over 75 fish species, and 15 reptile and frog species present today. Many of these species have migrated from neighboring countries thousands of years ago. Large and widely recognized mammal species found in Volkia are the gray wolf (the national animal), brown bear, moose, and wolverine. Some of the more striking birds include the golden eagle, which is the national bird of Volkia, the snowy owl, and the gray heron. Of the more than 75 fish species, the northern pike, perch, trout, and others are plentiful in Volkia's rivers and lakes. Fish present along the coast include cod, flounder, turbot, and numerous others. Iturian salmon remains a favorite of fly rod enthusiasts.

Climate

In the Köppen climate classification, the country is split into three climate zones. The majority of the country lays within the boreal zone, characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the temperateness varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of hemiboreal, boreal, and tundra climate.

Köppen climate classification types of Volkia.

Winters in southern Volkia (when mean daily temperature remains below 0 °C or 32 °F) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Izumrud, snow often covers the land from late December to late March. Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to −30 °C (−22 °F) although on coastal areas like Izumrud, temperatures below −30 °C (−22 °F) are very rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above 10 °C or 50 °F) in southern Volkia last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over 35 °C (95 °F). Although much of Volkia lies on the taiga belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as hemiboreal.

In northern Volkia, particularly in Norindzhik and Kurilsk, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe winter days in Norindzhik can see the temperature fall down to −45 °C (−49 °F). The winter of the extreme north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above 25 °C (77 °F) during heat waves. Parts of Norindzhik Oblast, Kologorsk Oblast, and all of Kurilsk Oblast have a tundra climate.

The Volkian climate is suitable for cereal farming in the southern regions, while the northern regions are suitable for animal husbandry.

Economy

Izumrud is a major shipping port of Volkia.

Volkia has a mixed economy, which has resulted in a prosperous capitalist welfare state with a combination of free market activity and large state ownership in certain key sectors. This was influenced first by socialist governments in the early 1930s and fully implemented by Social Democratic administrations starting in 1973. Public healthcare is free and parents receive 40 weeks of paid parental leave. Volkia also guarantees its workers a minimum of 32 days paid vacation (20 paid days off, 12 public holidays). The unemployment rate is 3.4%, with 66% of the population aged 15-74 employed. Nearly 8% of the population aged 18-66 receives a disability pension and 25% of the labor force are employed by the government. The vast majority of workers are unionized, totaling nearly 70% of the labor force in 2018.

The wage difference between the lowest paid worker and the CEO of most companies has been kept relatively low compared to other industrialized economies due to Volkian society's egalitarian values.

Volkia has a highly skilled workforce, low levels of corruption, and a relatively high level of innovation. The service sector contributes approximately 68% of the total GDP, industry 30.5%, and agriculture 1.5% as of 2019. Volkia holds significant timber, mineral (iron, chromium, copper, nickel, and gold), and freshwater resources. Forestry, paper factories, agriculture, and mines are important for rural residents and the national economy. The Greater Volkgoroda area generates more than a quarter of Volkia's GDP.

The state maintains large ownership positions in key industries such as the forestry sector (Kirishi Group), mining sector (Vyska Group), hydroelectric energy (Volkiya Hydro), natural gas sector (VorkutaGas), Volkia's largest bank (VYB), and the largest telecommunications provider (Volktel). The government controls roughly 25% of the stock values at the Volkgoroda Stock Exchange through these large companies. When non-listed companies are included, the state has an even higher share in ownership. Volkia is a major shipping nation and controls a sizable merchant fleet, with over 1,600 Volkian owned vessels.

Around 90% have a mobile phone and 85.7% have internet connection in their home. Cities and towns are encouraged to build their own broadband networks with technical and financial assistance from the federal government and Volktel.

Agriculture

A farm near Zarevo, Vladinsk Oblast

Most of Volkia's cultivated land is confined to the southernmost provinces of Akusha Oblast, Vladinsk Oblast, Lopatino Oblast, Osinsky Oblast, and the southern areas of Zhukovsky Oblast. For the most part Volkia's agriculture has been efficient and productive when compared to farming in neighboring countries. Agriculture in Volkia has been characterized by the northern climate and self-sufficiency in most major agricultural products. Large farms are responsible for the majority of agricultural goods produced, though small, family owned plots still play a major role in the growth of Volkian agriculture. However compared to other industries, agriculture's share of GDP has declined in recent years.

A wide variety of crops are grown in Volkia, including wheat, rye, barley, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, turnips, peas, hay, and silage. Volkian wheat, rye, and to a lesser extent potatoes are used in the production of Volkian vodkas.

Agriculture in Volkia's north is mostly restricted to animal husbandry due to the colder climate that makes it difficult to grow crops. Cattle and chickens are the main species preferred by Volkians, though other animals raised in northern Volkia include pigs, sheep, goats, and horses.

Energy

Popov Nuclear Power Plant near Popov, Akusha Oblast

Volkia produces a large amount of electricity thanks to the country's natural gas reserves, which has been used for export and for fueling its own power plants. There is also a large network of hydroelectric power that powers roughly 35% of the country. Natural gas plants produce 40% of Volkia's electricity, while nuclear power plants produce the remaining 25%.

Volkia's first nuclear power plant was built in 1990. Since then it has become one of five currently operating nuclear power plants in Volkia. Four of the nuclear power plants in Volkia are privately owned, while Popov Nuclear Power Plant was built and is currently owned by the state. All nuclear power is highly regulated and monitored by the Ministry of Energy. The Ministry of Energy has supported increasing the amount of hydroelectric and nuclear power produced, seeking to produce 80% of Volkia's electricity through renewable means by 2050.

Currently under construction is the Polskala spent nuclear fuel repository located in northern Norindzhik, which will be used as the national spent nuclear fuel repository. In early 2020 the Ministry of Energy approved an application for two additional reactors at the Yozhikov Nuclear Power Plant, located in Kalinibinsk Oblast.

Transport

Volkgoroda International Airport, the largest in Volkia.

Volkia's roadways are utilized mostly by internal cargo and passenger traffic, and as of 2015 totaled about 300,000 miles. The Volkian federal highway system is known colloquially as the Шоссе (Shosse). It is officially known as the Федеральная система автомобильных дорог (Federal'naya sistema avtomobil'nykh dorog, abbreviated FSAD), which translates as "federal highway system." It connects the major cities and is marked by blue colored signs and their own numbering system.

The main international passenger gateway is Volkgoroda International Airport, which handled about 30 million passengers in 2015. Poltovka International Airport is the second largest airport, handling about 21 million passengers in 2015. The country has 32 major airports, though the total number of airports and airfields total over 250. The flag carrier and largest airline in Volkia, Air Volkia, is based at Volkgoroda International and services both domestically and internationally.

The total length of common-used railway tracks exceeds 35,000 miles (56,327 km). Most of this railroad is electrified, and additionally there are more than 18,641 miles (30,000 km) of industrial non-common carrier lines. Like most of the world, Volkia uses the standard gauge for their railroads. High speed rail serves most major cities, and plans are in place to expand the system.

The majority of international cargo shipments are handled at Volkia's ports. Major sea ports of Volkia include Izumrud, Volsk, Shipunovo, Korkino, and Zuyevka which are located on the Gulf of Itur and the Mahigan Sea. In 2015 the country owned over 1,600 merchant marine ships. Icebreakers keep the northernmost ports of the country open year round. Ferry services connect mainland Volkia to its island possessions.

Major Volkian cities typically have well-developed systems of public transport, with the most common varieties of exploited vehicles being bus, trolleybus, and tram. Most major Volkian cities have underground metros. The Volkgoroda Metro and the Kursavka Metro are the oldest in Volkia, opened in 1925 and 1935 respectively. These two are among the fastest and busiest metro systems in the world, and are famous for rich decorations and unique designs of their stations.

Demographics

Population

Races in Volkia (2019 est.)
Race			Percentage
Volkian lupine			98.7%
Vulpine			0.6%
Human			0.6%
Other			0.1%

According to the 2012 census the total population of Volkia is 75,464,183. As of December 2019 Volkia's population is estimated to be 80,239,160. The population density in 2012 was estimated to be 148.8/sq mi (57.45/km2).

The birthrate in 2012 was 16 per 1,000. Its population growth rate is positive at 1.2%.

Volkia's population is mostly comprised of the lupine, while minority races include vulpines and humans.

About 85% of Volkian citizens live in urban areas (including suburbs); about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000. In 2012, 73 incorporated places had populations over 100,000. There are four metropolitan areas with populations greater than one million, one of which has a population of over three million. Of the 25 fastest-growing metro areas, 16 are located in the north and nine are located in Shimanovsk Oblast.

Largest cities

Main articles: List of cities and towns in Volkia by population, List of cities in Volkia

According to the 2012 Volkian National Census, 21.63% of the country's population lives in one of the nation's top 20 largest cities.

Family structure

As of 2012, 54% of Volkian citizens were married, 6% were widowed, 10% were divorced, and 30% had never been married. Women now mostly work outside of the home and earn a majority of bachelor's degrees.

The teen pregnancy rate is 15 per 1,000 women. Abortion is legal throughout the country thanks to the Legal Abortion Act, which was signed into law in 1982. The abortion rate has been falling in recent years, the ratio being 132 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2008. In 2015, the average age at first birth was 24 and 37.8% of births were to unmarried women.

The total fertility rate (TFR) was estimated for 2013 at 2.36 births per woman. Adoption in Volkia is common and relatively easy from a legal point of view. Same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since 1987 and it is legal for same-sex couples to adopt. Polygamy is illegal throughout the country.

Language

See also: Volkian language

Volkian is the only official national language of Volkia. In 2012, roughly 74.7 million, or 99% of the population aged five years and older, spoke only Volkia at home. Codexian is the second most spoken language, Unonian being the third. The learning of Volkian is a requirement to become a naturalized citizen. Volkians tend to be multilingual: 64% of Volkian citizens claim to be able to communicate in at least one foreign language and 22% in at least two.

Religion

See also: Yarkiyism

Religion in Volkia (2012)
Religion			Percentage
Yarkiyism			82.25%
Christianity			1.2%
No Religion			0.9%
Unaffiliated			13.45%
Other religions			2.1%

The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion and forbids the government from passing any laws that violates this protection. By far, the lupine religion of Yarkiyism is the most commonly practiced religion in Volkia, with 82.25% of the population stating they practice the religion in 2012. The human religions of Christianity and Islam are practiced in minority human populations within Volkia, and additionally a small number of people consider themselves irreligious.

Health

The life expectancy in Volkia is 78.6 years for males and 81.1 years for females. Volkia has made many advancements in the healthcare industry, extending life expectancy nearly 20 years since the 1920s. The infant mortality rate is 2.9 deaths per 1,000 live births while the maternal mortality rate is 4.7 per 100,000 live births.

Volkia has a hybrid healthcare model, insuring everyone under a national single-payer system. Nearly 90% of citizens also have private, supplemental insurance, which is either provided by their employer or purchased on the market.

Education

Over 99% of Volkian citizens aged 15 and above are able to read and write. Responsibility for educational supervision in Volkia is primarily organised within the individual provinces. Primary and secondary education is required by federal law. Students often continue their education into the post-secondary level. State universities are tuition free, and are available to all citizens and documented residents. Citizens are encouraged to enroll in post-secondary classes and pursue degrees.

Culture

Main article: Volkian culture

Cuisine

File:Biscuits and sausage gravy.jpg

Pechsosika, a popular Volkian breakfast.

Volkian cuisine widely uses meats, breads, vegetables, spices and pastas. Diversity in Volkian cuisine is high, and usually varies from region to region, though provincial differences also exist. However, thanks to the country unifying and the easing of movement between provinces, many foods spreading across the country. Foods that are "heavy" are common, though "lighter" meals do exist. Flavorful soups and stews include shchi, borsch, ukha, solyanka and okroshka. Smetana (a heavy sour cream) is often added to soups and salads. Pirozhki, blini and syrniki are native types of pancakes. Steaks and chicken breasts are popular centerpieces for meat dishes.

Volkian people drink a variety of drinks, ranging from water to coffee. Sweet tea, known as sladkiy chay, is an incredibly popular drink. It's ranked as a favorite drink of the populace, followed by water, coffee, and soda. The country also produces a variety of alcohol including vodka and beer, the top two favorite alcoholic drinks.

Visual arts

Art has been an important part in Volkia's history, helping record important events through history. Early art depicted grand battles, leaders of Volkia's first states, religion and other important people. This continued into Volkia's history as it transformed into a fruitful kingdom and empire, glorifying its leaders and advancements. Volkian art grew dark in the years following the establishment of the junta. Enlightenment art rose with the foundation of the Federation, putting power into the hands of the people.

Post-federalization art saw bright colors and hope return to Volkian art. Scenes of battle were painted as well, showing the new army fighting for the people. This trend as continued into the 21st century, only bringing dark themes into it during times of trouble in the country.

Modern art today is bright and uplifting, and depicts anything from people and important figures to abstract art.

Music

Volkian music traditionally was made with stringed instruments, drums, and horns. Various instruments were brought in as the nation began to westernize, shaping the musical style of Volkia today.

Rock music has taken off in the country, with subjects from emotions to historically important events. Classical remains popular as well thanks to Alexander Yurov, a man many musicians consider to be one of the best composers of the century.

Laws passed in the early 1990s have restricted the censorship of music, as well as other art forms and television.

Media

Media has always been controlled by the people with little restriction. These freedoms are held near and dear to the hearts of the people, and almost all broadcasting companies belong to private citizens. Government does own some broadcasting services, but these are typically only for education or information purposes. Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Volkian constitution, ensuring the people will hear from the people on matters, not the government.

Laws passed in the early 1980s have greatly restricted the censorship of media. However, the government has an ability to publish what is known as Ne translirovat' uvedomleniye, or a Do Not Broadcast Notice, which is an official request to news editors not to publish or broadcast items on specified subjects for reasons of national security.

Sports

See also: Volkian Olympic Committee

One of the most popular sports in Volkia is ice hockey. Most high schools and colleges have their own hockey teams, and the Volkia Hockey League represents the professional level of hockey in the country. High school, college and professional levels are followed closely by the populace. Besides hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and football are also closely followed by the population. These sports also have large followings from the population, having high school, college, and professional teams.

Each of these sports have a professional league established, and includes the Volkian Hockey League, Federation Soccer League, Federation Football League, Federation Baseball League, and the Federation Basketball Association.

With the large amount of teams scattered across the country, there's plenty of healthy rivalries between provinces and cities.

Volkia has also made its first Olympic Games appearance in the Tenth Winter Olympics. It finished seventh overall, winning six gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals. Skater Alya Gagolin set a new Olympic record for the Women's 1500m short track event. The nation's flag bearer, Alexi Zaytsev, also won a gold medal in his event.

National holidays

All of the twelve federal holidays are also provincial holidays. A holiday that falls on a weekend is usually observed on the closest weekday. The official names came from the laws that define holidays for federal employees. While officially a secular nation, the federal government continues to observe major religious holidays.

Date	Official Name (Volkian)	Notes
January 1st	New Year's Day (День нового года)	Celebrates the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. Festivities typically begin the previous evening.
Last Monday of March	Labor Day (День труда)	Celebrates achievements of workers and the labor movement.
April 17th	Federation Day (День Федерации)	Celebrates the adoption of the Constitution of Volkia and the creation of the Federative Republic.
Last Friday of April	Zukov's Birthday (День рождения Жуков)	Honors Aleksey Zukov, the first president of the Federation.
First Friday of May	President's Day (День президентов)	Honors the presidents of Volkia.
Third Monday of May	Spring Festival (Весенний фестиваль)	Religious and federal holiday.
Third Monday of June	Defenders of the Federation Day (День защитника Федерации)	Honors all members of the Volkian Defense Forces, especially surviving veterans of wars.
Last Friday in September	Festival of the Sky (Фестиваль неба)	Celebrates the deity of Yarkiyism, Yelena. Religious and federal holiday.
Last Wednesday in October (Biennial)	Election Day (День выборов)	Public holiday held every other year for purposes of federal elections. The next federal elections are to be held October 28, 2020.
Third Friday of November	Autumn Festival (Осенний фестиваль)	Celebrates the autumn harvest in Volkia, has its roots in old Yarkiyism festivals.
December 29th	Eve of the Winter Festival (Фестиваль Зимы Ева)	Celebrates the eve of the Winter Festival, an important part of Yarkiyism. Religious and federal holiday.
December 30th	Winter Festival (Зимний фестиваль)	Celebrates the Winter Festival, an important part of Yarkiyism. Religious and federal holiday.

	Volkian Federative Republic
Main article: Volkia
Important Topics: Culture ♦ Lupine ♦ Volkian language ♦ Lunarism ♦ Volkian korona ♦ Defense Forces
Government: Federal Government ♦ President ♦ Cabinet ♦ National Assembly ♦ Federal Supreme Court ♦ Political Parties
History: Grand Principality of Volkia ♦ Duchy of Volkia ♦ Kingdom of Volkia ♦ Volkian Civil War ♦ Northern Revolt ♦ Volkian Revolution
Important Figures (Past and Present): Yuliya Surkova ♦ Aleksey Pushkarev ♦ Stefan Gurkovsky ♦ Ivan Ogarkov ♦ Vasily Tolmachyov ♦ Yulian Lebedev