Ukrainian State

Ukrainian State (Great Ukrainian State) is a federal parliamentary republic in Eastern Europe, whose name is often shortened to “Ukraine” or “US/UD”. It borders Kryvia to the north, Poland, Hungary, and the First Czech Republic to the west, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and Russia to the east and northeast. In the south and southeast, it is washed by the Black and Azov Seas.

History
The history of the late 19 – early 20 century Central and Eastern Europe can be summarized as a “clusterfuck”. Breaking free from imperial shackles, a lot of national movements tried to consolidate their territorial claims on their ethnic lands where they historically lived since times immemorial. The problem of such an approach quickly showed itself as it turned out that these lands, “where they lived since times immemorial”, in actuality hosted a mishmash of various ethnicities, whole political opinion on such “unification” varied. But if the ethnic minority question was mostly a political one and barely influenced the overall national politics, the question of other politically active nationalist movements on their lands, as well as different ideas on what constitutes the national identity were much more pressing.

In the world of Keine Zeit, the “Greater Ukrainian” national identity has begun forming roughly in the middle of the 19 century thanks to the combined efforts of Halécs and Cossack intelligentsia (coming mostly from students and writers). Initially, the “Greater Ukrainian” idea was more that of a friendly cultural exchange between friendly Halécs and Cossack subcultures about common questions but as time went on friendship turned into an active discussion about a common language and ethnography. Of course, none of this happened without any resistance: the Greater Ukrainian identity was often in conflict with local Halécs, Cossack, Little Russian, and Rusén identities and even the idea of what constitutes a “Greater Ukrainian” language and culture was subject of heated internal debates. The Russian-controlled Cossack East Ukraine and the Austro-Hungarian-controlled Halécs Western Ukraine had a lot in common, but also a lot of differences, prompting a large discussion on what Greater Ukraine is supposed to be like. A discussion roughly abrupt when the world was set ablaze.

Rusy People's Republic and Slobidszyka Ukraine
Using communist revolts in Petrograd to their advantage, the Cossack nationalists of Slobozsanscsena and Hetymanscsena were the first to organize nationalist political parties called “national unions”. At first, they had to compete with communist and pro-Russian parties, but eventually, they prevailed, in part thanks to an active Cossack desire for an autonomous “Ruso-Cossack Nation” inside of the Russian Empire, as well re-instigating their old privileges. But when it became apparent that neither the Russian Bolsheviks nor the Russian government was supportive of that, the movement started to radicalize, declaring the Rusy People’s Republic (RPR) as an independent state.

The beginnings of this new state began to be rough almost immediately. Unhappy with the Hetman lawmaking, Slobidszyka Ukraine (SU) declared its independence from the RPR a year after its creation. There were several reasons for that: though historically Slobozsanscéna was considered “Ukrainian” and Slobida people gladly considered themselves as “Ukrainians” and took part in the Greater Ukraine debate, there was a pretty significant cultural and linguistic gap between the Slobida Cossacks and the Hetmanate Cossacks that with time also grew to be political. While the Hetnamate nationalist and socialist movements were generally mild, the Slobidszyka Ukraine was under influence of Don-imported right-wing Cossack nationalism and radical left-wing movements like anarchism. That’s why the larger RNR land reform was almost immediately strongly opposed by the poor Slobida Cossacks and peasants. This created a fertile ground for Slobida radicalization, culminating in the hurried creation of the Council of Sloboda in Charkiv and the creation of the Slobidszyka Ukraine state. A military conflict between these two states was imminent if it was not for the Russian intervention and occupation of the Slobidszyka Ukraine. Agreeing to a temporary ceasefire, the combined forces of RNR and SU successfully repelled Russians in the Battle of Charkiv. This event has not only cooled Slobida separatism but also gave a generalized “reminder” to both elites about the ideals of the Greater Ukraine. After several days of negotiations, the temporary ceasefire has evolved into the Unification Act between RNR and SU into the Union of Ukrainian States that was functioning similarly to the First Czechoslovakia or the USA.

West Ukrainian People’s Republic
Meanwhile, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire was crumbling, the pro-Ukrainian forces of Western Ukraine gathered into the Ukrainian National Council, and soon after both soldiers and paramilitary “armed clubs”, many of which were composed of Cossacks, started capturing key points in the region. This almost immediately triggered a clash between Ukrainian and Polish nationalists, resulting in Lyviv being considered a “contested” city. Later Csernivci also came under Ukrainian control, triggering conflict with Romanians. It was under these circumstances that the West Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR) was created and it laid claim on the lands of Halecséna, Zakapattya, and Bukovéna. Under Polish and Romanian pressure, ZUNR was quickly losing ground and happily accepted the help from RNR that in turn established a temporary political alliance with Kryvia, Moldova, and (partially) Lithuania whom themselves were suffering from Polish and Romanian irredentism. Combined with other military conflicts (Czechoslovakia-Poland War, Romania-Hungary War, etc.) this stretched and damaged Polish and Romanian war efforts. The combined Ukrainian Army captured Lyviv and Csernihiv and bogged down in Lemkivscséna, Lower Bukovéna, and Zakarpattya, where they met the Czechoslovak and Hungarian military that also laid claim to these lands. Tired of war, the sides have signed several peace treaties that established the new borders. These also included giving away territory to Kryvia and Moldova, a “reward” for their assistance that was criticized by ZUNR soldiers. Still, soon after RNR and ZUNR signed a Unification Act in Kéjiv. Formally ZUNR entered into the Union as the Western Region of RNR, but the final fate of all states was to be postponed until lands under Ukrainian control were pacified and a working bureaucracy was established.

Karpatszyka Ukraine
The lands of Hungarian Rusy ultimately became a battlefield between the armies of the First Czechoslovak Republic, Hungary, Poland, and soon after – ZUNR. The internal political situation of Zakarpattya was a complicated one, with the question of ethnicity and statehood being the hardest. Various political bodies were soon created, each having different social and national-cultural demands. Their orientation varied between pro-communist, pro-Hungarian, pro-Czechoslovak, pro-Ukrainian, and pro-Rusén (independent from all). Ultimately, the lands of Hungarian Rusy were divided between the First Republic and Hungary but that lasted briefly and soon after Hungary, with tacit approval from Czechoslovaks, began a “reunification campaign” with the explicit goal to annex the entirety of Rusy lands, using the rise of pro-Ukrainian and pro-Rusén movements as an excuse. Seeing a chance, the Union of Ukrainian States begins to support local Rusén people, first with supplies and then officially entering the war and uniting with Hucul and Rusen units. Realizing that Ukrainians have a numerical advantage, the Hungarians retreat but do not surrender their claims to the region. To this day Zakarpattya suffers from the problem of Hungarian terrorism.

Karpatszyka Ukraine (KU) entered the Union of Ukrainian States. There was a controversy about how exactly should it enter: as a separate state or as a part of ZUNR since it officially claimed those territories. In the end, the first option won. Officially this was a sign of agreement to preserve the “separate identity of Hungarian Ruséns”. In reality, having an independent Carpathian Ukraine that entered the union willingly had a greater political weight than just merging it with the Western Region of RNR, which internationally would make them no better than Hungary.

Federalization and Crimean People's Republic
When the situation in Europe finally calmed down, the leaders of the four Ukrainian states have concluded that though they are united by the “Greater Ukrainian” identity (as well as numerous enemies) they had plenty of differences and arguments between them, any of which could spark new conflicts. Conflicts nobody wanted anymore. Understanding that, it was decided to reform the Union of Ukrainian States into the modern Ukrainian State. Taking the Unification Act between RNR and SU as the basis, ZUNR and KU were included in it as federal lands. The following administrative reform has radically changed the lands between the federal states. This was done to unify previously different administrative divisions, as well as to further tie Ukraine's to each other, mixing ethnicities together.

Initially the Crimean People’s Republic (CPR) had declared itself independent from everyone. But that independence didn’t last long. The Crimean Bolsheviks together with Red Cossacks, Odesa anarchists, and pro-anarchist seamen from the Black Sea fleet quickly captured Sevastopol and from it – other key cities of Crimea, declaring the Taurida Soviet Socialist Republic (TSSR), named after the Taurida Governorate which territories it claimed. Seeing this as a threat to their state, the SU and RNR created a joint army to capture TSSR. They've achieved that goal in half a month, destroying the disorganized forces of the Bolsheviks and restoring Crimean Tatar Majlis and Directory. Soon after CPR will declare a Unification Act between Ukraine and Crimea, which would be deemed as illegal annexation by Russian, Kazakian, and Romanian governments. Upon entering, the land of CRN had grown, roughly encompassing the old Imperial Taurida Governorate, in exchange for open access to ports and the Black Sea.

Current Day
As of now, the Ukrainian State is going through a period of industrialization and national-cultural Renaissance. European experts are hired to build new roads. Though most of the nation is still agrarian, it has stabilized production of military equipment and a middle class is getting established.

But the state has its fair share of problems: pro-Russian and Bolshevik elements still exist in Ukraine and occasionally wish to coup local city administration to create communist strongholds or as a gate for the larger Russian communist movement to exploit. Such believes are popular among the working-class – factory workers and ports and their demonstrations are brutally suppressed by the local military formations. Karpatszyka Ukraine faces a large Hungarian terrorist problem that burns villages and spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda, part of which is to fuel an ethnic conflict by accusing openly pro-Ukrainian Huculs of burning Rusen villages. The terrorist problem has become such a big issue that currently Ukraine is in a period of “Terror”, when military and paramilitary units routinely commit atrocities against the Bolsheviks, Carpathian Hungarians, Halechian Poles, and their sympathizers, triggering their mass exodus and a worsening of already bad relations with their neighbors. The international relationship between Ukraine and Kryvia and Moldova is complicated but neutral.

Inspired by the Cossack mythos, the Ukrainian culture is militarizing. Pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups called “military clubs” are created all over the nation and they are often the perpetrators of the aforementioned atrocities with the local government either ignoring or not knowing about it. These clubs are tolerated predominantly because they will act as a vanguard should any foreign invasion occur. Even in an event of a sudden attack, Ukraine is capable of gathering a very large number of capable military personnel in a short time specifically thanks to these clubs, as well as the educational push of organizations like the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists.

Internally the Ukrainian state is also turbulent. Though most people are content with the current state of events, a large autonomist movement exists and does everything in its power to prevent further integration of the federal subjects. Cossack Khazarism is still spread among RNR and SU’s political elites and is supported by Kazakia to spread the ideology of Cossack supremacy. Some ZUNR politicians are dissatisfied with the territorial changes “imposed” by the federal government. Of all the states in UD, the CNR looks to be the most stable one of them all, but even they have a vocal minority of nationalists that aren’t happy with the current status quo. There are also problems of ethnic conflicts: from the aforementioned conflict between Huculs and Rusens to the self-determination movement of Oziv Greeks or Rumei.

Language
''Buducsnisty pokazse, cséja bude perevaha v spilynij, literaturnij rusyko-ukrajinszykij movi. To-zh pokéscso budymo terpémi do riznéch naséch naricsij, starajmosy tilyké pesaté scséro po-narodnyomu.'' The Ukrainian State doesn’t have an official language, instead, every federal republic has its standardized variant that is officially called “Ukrainian language”: Western Ukrainian/Halecykej, Rusykej/Cossack, Slobida, and Rusen. Legally the Crimean Tatar language is considered to be a standardized variant of the Ukrainian language and thus shares the same privileges as other variants of “Ukrainian”.

Four out of five standards use Cyrillic as their official writing system: RNR and SU use the “Ruthenian” Cyrillic that is based on the Cossack shorthand, while ZUNR and KU use “Zhelekhivka”: the unofficial name for the Cyrillic standard and orthography created by Yevhen Zhelekhivskyi based on Russian Civil Script. Crimean Tatars to this day use Arabic script to write their language though there are talks about changing it to another writing system. Some propose an Arabic script for Ukrainian as well.

Latin transliteration or the “Vseukrajinsyka naukova laténka” was approved much later for international correspondence and terminology and is barely used outside of these fields. This transliteration standard is based on the Hungarian orthography, in part due to it being used in Karpatszyka Ukraine to this day.

Though there was a desire to codify a standardized Ukrainian grammar and orthography they were put on hold due to political instability and were later abandoned. Currently the “Standard Ukrainian” is mostly formed colloquially in the form of a “creole” language, as words and grammar elements from all standards are combined into one. The National Renaissance combined with a lack of one standard for the Ukrainian language prompted a new wave of interest towards dialects and linguistics overall. Books and dictionaries about “personal languages” of Halecséna, Siverscséna, Lemkivscéna, Nadsyannya, Donscséna, etc are regularly published. There are attempts to create an Arabic standard for Ukrainian, as well as a Cyrillic standard for languages of ethnic minorities (such as Karajim or Urum people).