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Don Republic
Timeline: 1983: Doomsday

OTL equivalent: Southern Don River Basin
Flag Coat of Arms
Flag Coat of Arms
Location of Don Republic
Location of Don Republic
Motto
The Ash of a River
Capital Proletarsk
Largest city Volgodonsk
Other cities Novocherkask, Salsk, Tsimlyansk, Zernograd, Izobilny
Language Russian
Religion Russian Orthodox
President Viktor Demyanenko
Prime Minister Viktor Aleksandrovich Firsov
Area approx. 55,000 km km²
Population approx. 1.1 million 
Established May 21st, 1988
Currency Don Ruble
Organizations Black Sea Accords

The Don Republic is a country, mostly inhabited by Don Cossacks, located in former Russia. A short distance to the south lies the nation-state of the Kuban People's Republic and to the southwest lies Crimea, across the Sea of Azov.

History[]

Doomsday[]

The city of Rostov-on-Don and its immediate environs was struck by several nuclear warheads due to its importance as a port, centre of industry, and military bases there. Other cities in the area struck were the cities of Millerovo and Krymsk which were leveled in strikes on nearby air bases. The city of Taganrog was partially hit by a nuke meant for it, when it detonated in the harbor, a couple of meters underwater, causing small tidal waves in the Sea of Azov which destroyed much of the coastal resorts. The nuclear plant at Volgodonsk was also hit with a regular warhead that damaged the plant, though the engineers there were able to shut down the reactor before it went critical - and they were confidant as well that they would be able to repair the damage fairly easily, with a little time, using parts on hand or nearby.

Within a week of the attacks, the Don Cossack leadership met in the city of Novocherkask, which had escaped destruction, but was going to be heavily radiated shortly. As this was obvious, they decided to move southward to an old stronghold of theirs. The site chosen was the city of Proletarsk, in the southernmost reaches of the Don River Basin - and believed to be relatively safe from fallout.

By mid-October, fallout from the strikes around Rostov had rendered the city of Novocherkask temporarily uninhabitable. Winds also brought radioactive rains from the Ukraine and sites southwest which severely damaged the environment in much of the northern reaches of the river basin, killing the fish there and mutating most of the crops there. Even today most of this northern area is partially irradiated, more than 20 years later. The city of Novocherkask, the first objective of the Cossacks for rebuilding and repopulating, was not attempted until the early 1990s.

Famine would occur in these northern regions, which when combined with the radiation meant that refugees fled to the south, since the zone likely irradiated was massive to the north. This caused a refugee crisis and food shortages there as well. though nowhere near as bad. Many of these refugees would perish, leaving bodies along the roads heading southward - many died from radiation poisoning. As a result of the refugees and influenza epidemic also occurred, killing many.

But, after arriving safely in Proletarsk, The Cossack leaders, along with the surviving communist officials, established their headquarters there, hoping for aid from outside. Most of the surviving areas of the basin, consisting of the southernmost quarter and the city of Volgodonsk, came under their control.

Independence[]

By 1988, it was obvious that there would be none - and the local communists were being blamed. Finally, in May, the Cossacks had had enough - and disposed of the communists. On May 21st, they finally declared themselves independent as the Don Republic, in much the same light as their earlier actions in the Russian Civil War.

In late September, almost 5 years to the day after the attacks, the engineers at the nuclear power plant near Volgodonsk were finally able to get the plant up and running again. This marked the point where real recovery in the area finally began to occur, as long as fuel remained.

Word was received in April of 1989 about the establishment of a Kuban Republic to the south, and what small amount of aid could be sent was, for it was long known that they were worse off there. A form of economic alliance was established shortly thereafter, fueled at least in part by the nuclear plant in Volgodonsk, which was quickly becoming the largest city in the area. By 1992, there would be new agricultural and health programs in the republic, and the area around Novocherkask would once again be under their control and reconstruction had commenced.

Today[]

Today, most of the people in the country are farmers, as necessity has demanded. There is a decent-sized military force, based upon those troops who were able to survive the Rostov strikes in one way or another. Novocherkask is slowly being rebuilt and populated, thought much of it is still abandoned. This project, now supervised by president Viktor Vodolatskiy, continues to modernize and repair the city. Talk has begun about moving the capital back there, and it eventually will be, as soon as it can be deemed suitable. There is also an intense dislike for the Soviet Union, and all things communist.

On October 17th, 2011, a Chechen terrorist blew himself up in Volgodonsk at 5:12 pm local time, killing 12. It is unknown at this time as to the reasons for this, and it will probably never be known.

International Relations[]

The republic is very close to the Kubans, and by virtue of that, the Crimeans. Currently, a railroad is under construction to connect their rail network to Volgodonsk. It is expected to be finished sometime in 2013.

It is this relationship which led, on August 31st, 2011, to their signing onto the Black Sea Accords as a junior member. In return, they will receive Greek funding for the railway, and a promise to try and acquire more fuel for the plant.

800px-Don River near Kalininsky

Small town along the Don River

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