Labor, Socialism, Revival (GotW x 1983: Doomsday)

Other Russian survivor states: The Don Republic

From the ruins of the Russian FSSR, some new countries who survived from the attacks began to rise.

Inspired by the Baltic and Nordic countries, who declared independence and became more western alligned, independent groups managed to seize some parts of southern Russia and small areas in the north.

In the river Don, Cossacks would roam in the steppe, as their ancestors did centuries ago.

THE STORY OF THE DON REPUBLIC

Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, Russian SFSR. September 26th 1983.

Dasha was awaken by sirens and noises in the streets; and before he knew what was happening, a call came. It was Arisha, who wanted to know if he was awake...and that he should flee the city, due the beginning of the nuclear war.

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.

Novocherkask, Rostov Oblast,former Russian SFSR. October 1st, 1983.

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.

The temporary settlement of the Cossacks was the place where Dasha Shpak decided to rest after barely leaving Rostov minutes before its destruction. With parts of his body still burnt by the explosion, he was trying to stand in the Ataman Palace, his current residence in the city for the days where he lived in the city

Proletarsk, Rostov Oblast, former Russian SFSR. October 20th, 1983.

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.

Following the Cossack leaders after the evacuation of Novocherkask due fallout, Dasha Shpak reached the city of Proletarsk, and acting as a mediator between the communists and the cossacks, he was able to mantain both groups in peace...but that would only last until 1988...

Proletarsk, Don Republic/Russian SFSR. May 21th, 1988

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.

Dasha Shpak, who was known as Cossackia/Rostov, was being feeling better and recovered from his burned wounds caused by the strike in Rostov-na-Donu, but now in Proletarsk, he felt safe, and formed part of the Cossacks himself, as an honorary member of the group that he was representing...

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.