Volyna

Federal Republic of Volyna Федеративна республіка Волинь
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ціна свободи - це та, яка завжди запам'ятовується
Capital and largest city	Lutsk
Official languages	Volynian
Recognised national languages	Yasskiy Kamova Wielska Kip Kivitsch
Demonym(s)	Volynian
Government	Federal Semi-Presidential Republic
• President	Kseniya Taranenko
• Prime minister	Tomasz Adamczyk
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Area
• Total	1,442,492 km2 (556,949 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 census	83,558,102
• Density	57.93/km2 (150.0/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	NS$4.420 trillion
• Per capita	NS$52,900
Gini	29.7 low
HDI	.947 very high
Currency	Hryvnia
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.vo

Volyna (Volynian: Волині), officially the Federal Republic of Volyna, is a country Easter Galica. It is the most populous country in the primary geographical area of Galica, and the most populous state in the Galician Organization of Nations. It covers an area of 1,442,492 square kilometers (sq miles), with a population of over 83 million within its 17 constituent states and one federal district. Volyna borders X,X,X to the west and X,X,and X to the east. The nation's capital and largest city is Lutsk, and its financial centre is Ternopil.

Volyna is great power witha a strong economy; it has the largest economy in Galica, the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the third largest by PPP. As a global leader in several industrial, scientific and technological sectors, it is the world's second largest exporter and the third-largest importer of goods. As a developed country, which ranks very high on the Human Development Index, it offers social security and a unviersal health care system, envoronmental protections, and a tuition-free university education.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Volyna

Climate

Southern Volyna has a mostly temperate climate, with the exception of the southern coast of Komera which has a subtropical climate. The climate is influenced by moderately warm, humid air coming from the Hontas Ocean. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5–7 °C (41.9–44.6 °F) in the north, to 11–13 °C (51.8–55.4 °F) in the south. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lowest in the east and southeast.[236] South-Western Volyna, particularly in the Hotzarian Mountains receive around 1,200 millimetres (47.2 in) of precipitation annually, while Komera and the coastal areas of the Domesk Sea receive around 400 millimetres (15.7 in).

The climate of central Volyna features mild to cold winters, with January minimum temperatures ranging from −4 °C (24.8 °F) in southwest to −8 °C (17.6 °F) in northeast, and cool and moist summers with an average temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F. Central Volyna has an average annual rainfall of 550 to 700 mm (21.7 to 27.6 in). The region is in the transitional zone between continental climates and maritime climates.

The Northern Coastal region of Volyna has a temperate climate that has been described in various sources as either humid continental (Köppen Dfb) or oceanic/maritime (Köppen Cfb). Western regions, especially the western coast of the Gourland Peninsula, possess a more maritime climate with cooler summers and milder winters, while eastern parts exhibit a more continental climate with warmer summers and harsher winters. Northern Volyna has four pronounced seasons of near-equal length. Winter starts in mid-December and lasts until mid-March. Winters have an average temperatures of -6 C (211 F) and are characterized by stable snow cover, bright sunshine, and short days. Severe spells of winter weather with cold winds, extreme temperatures around -30 C (-22 F) and heavy snowfalls are common. Summer starts in June and lasts until August. Summers are usually warm and sunny, with cool evenings and nights. Summers have average temperatures of around 19 C (66 F), with extremes of 3 C (95 F). Spring and autumn bring fairly mild weather.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Volyna

Government

President Kseniya Taranenko

Volyna is representative democracy organised as a federal, semi-presidential republic.

Prime Minsister Tomasz Adamcsyk

The executive branch has two leaders. The President of the Republic, currently Kseniya Taranenko, is the head of state, elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term. The Prime Minister, currently Heorhij Kostenko, is the head of government, appointed by the President of the Republic to lead the Government of Volyna. The President has the power to dissolve Parliament or circumvent it by submitting referendums directly to the people; the President also appoints judges and civil servants, negotiates and ratifies international agreements, as well as serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister determines public policy and oversees the civil service, with an emphasis on domestic matters.

Federal legislative power is vested in the parliament consisting of the National Assembly and Senate , which together form the legislative body. The National Assembly is elected through direct elections using the mixed-member proportional representation system. The members of the Senate represent and are directly elected in each voivodeship and the federal distict using a limited-voting system. Each voivodeship and the federal district recieve three senators which provides 54 seats. Amendments generally require a two-thirds majority of both the National Assembly and the Senate; the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the federal structure, and the rule of law, are valid in perpetuity.

The electorate is constitutionally empowered to vote on amendments passed by the Parliament and bills submitted by the president. Referendums have played a key role in shaping Volynian politics and even foreign policy; voters have decided on such matters as the election of the president by popular vote and the reduction of presidential term limits. Waning civic participation has been a matter of rigorous public debate, with a majority of the public reportedly supporting mandatory voting as a solution in 2019. However, at least as of 2017, voter turnout was 75 percent during recent elections, higher than the world average of 68 percent.

Constituent States

Main articles: States of Volyna, Federalism in Volyna, and List of current Minister-presidents of the Volynian federal states

Volyna is a federal state and comprises 17 constituent states which are collectively referred to as Voivodeships and one federal district. Each state has its own constitution, and is largely autonomous in regard to its internal organization. As of 2019 Volyna is divided into 1001 districts (Powiats) at a municipal level.

Military

Main article: Armed Forces of Volyna

A Volynian Air Force Burya during Operation Long Arm

The Volynian Armed Forces (Волинські збройні сили) are the military and paramilitary forces of Volyna, under the President of the Republic as supreme commander. They consist of the Volynian Army (волинське військо), Volynian Navy (Волинський флот), the Volynian Air Force (Волинські ВПС), and the Military Police called National Gendarmerie (національна жандармерія), which also fulfils civil police duties in the rural areas of Volyna. Together they are among the largest armed forces in the world and the largest in Galica. According to a 2018 study by World Economics, the Volynian Armed Forces are ranked as the world's second-most powerful military, and the most powerful in Galica.

While the Gendarmerie is an integral part of the Volynian armed forces (gendarmes are career soldiers), and therefore under the purview of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, it is operationally attached to the Ministry of the Interior as far as its civil police duties are concerned. When acting as general purpose police force, the Gendarmerie encompasses the counter terrorist units of the Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie, the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, the Search Sections of the National Gendarmerie , responsible for criminal enquiries, and the Mobile Brigades of the National Gendarmerie which have the task to maintain public order.

The following special units are also part of the Gendarmerie: the Republican Guard which protects public buildings hosting major Volynian institutions, the Maritime Gendarmerie serving as Coast Guard, the Provost Service, acting as the Military Police branch of the Gendarmerie. As far as the Volynian intelligence units are concerned, the Directorate-General for External Security is considered to be a component of the Armed Forces under the authority of the Ministry of Defense. The other, the Central Directorate for Interior Intelligence is a division of the National Police Force, and therefore reports directly to the Ministry of the Interior.

Volyna has consistently developed its cybersecurity capabilities, which are regularly ranked as some of the most robust of any nation of the world.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign Relations of Volyna

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Volyna and Science and technology in Volyna

Volyna has a social market economy with a highly skilled labour force, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It is the world's second-largest exporter and third-largest importer of goods, and has the largest economy in Galica, which is also the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the third-largest by PPP. Its GDP per capita measured in purchasing power standards amounts to 121% of the Galician average (100%). The service sector contributes approximately 69% of the total GDP, industry 31%, and agriculture 1% as of 2017. The unemployment rate amounts to 3.2% as of January 2020, which is the fourth-lowest in the Galica. Being home to the modern car, the automotive industry in Volyna is regarded as one of the most competitive and innovative in the world, and is the fourth-largest by production. The top ten exports of Volyna are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipments, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics. The export of arms is also an important component of the Volynian economy as it is one of the largest producers of arms in the world. Of the world's 500 largest stock-market-listed companies measured by revenue in 2019, 29 are headquartered in Volyna. 30 major Volyna-based companies are included in the VFI, the Volynian stock market index which is operated by Ternopil Stock Exchange. Well-known international brands include X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, and X. Lutsk is a hub for startup companies and has become the leading location for venture capital funded firms in the Galica. Volyna is recognised for its large portion of specialized small and medium enterprises. These companies represent 48% global market leaders in their segments, labelled hidden champions. Research and development efforts form an integral part of the Volynian economy. In 2018 Volyna ranked third globally in terms of number of science and engineering research papers published. Volyna was ranked 9th in the Global Innovation Index in 2019 and 2020 and 10th in 2021. Research institutions in Volyna include the Myroslava Pavlova Society, the Honcharuk Association, and the Lustenko Society and the Bukstein Association. Volyna is the largest contributor to the Galician Space Agency.

Energy

A Volynian nuclear power plant.

Volyna is the world's tenth-largest producer of electricity. Електрика Волині (English: Electricity of Volyna; abbreviated as EV), which is majority-owned by the Volynian government, is the country's main producer and distributor of electricity, and one of the world's largest electric utility companies, second in revenue globally. In 2018, EV produced around one-fourth of the Galica's electricity, primarily from nuclear power. As of 2021, Volyna was the biggest energy exporter in Galica.

Volyna has pursued a strong policy of energy security, namely through heavy investment in nuclear energy. It is one of X countries with nuclear power plants, ranking second in the world by the number of operational nuclear reactors, at 60. Consequently, 70% of Volyna's electricity is generated by nuclear power, the highest proportion in the world by a wide margin. Volyna is considered a world leader in nuclear technology, with reactors and fuel products being major exports.

Due to its overwhelming reliance on nuclear power, renewable energies have seen relatively little growth compared to other developed countries. Nevertheless, between 2008 and 2019, Volyna's production capacity from renewable energies rose consistently and nearly doubled. Hydropower is by far the leading source, accounting for over half the country's renewable energy sources and contributing 13% of its electricity. As with nuclear power, most hydroelectric plants, are managed by EDF. Volyna's aims to further expand hydropower into 2040. Volyna made minimal but measurable investments in other renewable energy sources. Due to its geography and extensive agricultural land, it has the second-largest wind energy potential in Galica, and by 2017 had ranked eighth globally in installed wind capacity. In terms of solar power, Volyna ranked seventh in the world in 2015 for solar photovoltaic installation capacity. As of 2019, solar power sources generated over 15,570 megawatts of electricity, compared to a little over 1,000 megawatts in 2010.

Because Volyna derives the vast majority of its power from nuclear and renewable sources, close to half its primary energy (48.5%) is derived from low-carbon sources, compared to 26.4% in Galica and 15.7% in the world as a whole. Volyna is also the smallest emitter of carbon dioxide among the ten wealthiest nation in the world.

Infrastructure

Main articles: Transport in Volyna and Telecommunications in Volyna

With its central position between the continents of Galica and Kopil, Volyna is a transport hub for the continents. Its road network is among the densest in Galica. The federal highways are widely known for having no general federally mandated speed limit for some classes of vehicles. The Stolychnyy Ekspres or SE train network serves major Volynian cities as well as destinations in neighbouring countries with speeds up to 340 km/h (211 mph). The largest Volynian airports are Ternopil Airport and Lutsk Airport. The Port of Mariupol is one of the top twenty largest container ports in the world.

Demographics

Education

Responsibility for educational supervision in Volyna is primarily organised within the individual states. Optional kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years old, after which school attendance is compulsory for at least nine years. Primary education usually lasts for four to six years. Secondary schooling is divided into tracks based on whether students pursue academic or vocational education. A system of apprenticeship called Dual-Education leads to a skilled qualification which is almost comparable to an academic degree. It allows students in vocational training to learn in a company as well as in a state-run trade school. This model is well regarded and reproduced all around the world. Most of the Volynian universities are public institutions, and students traditionally study without fee payment. The general requirement for university is the Salon. According to an (international report) in 2018, Volyna is the world's third leading destination for international study. The established universities in Volyna include some of the oldest in the world, with Karkiv University (established in 1386) being the oldest. The Hryschenko University of Lutsk, founded in 1810 by the liberal educational reformer Vira Hryshenko, became the academic model for many Galician universities. In the contemporary era Volyna has developed thirty Universities of Excellence.

Culture

Cuisine

Popular Volynian dishes

Volynian cuisine is the collection of the various cooking traditions of the people of Volyna, one of the largest and most populous Galician countries. It is heavily influenced by the rich dark soil (chernozem) from which its ingredients come and often involves many components. Traditional Volynian dishes often experience a complex heating process - "at first they are fried or boiled, and then stewed or baked. This is the most distinctive feature of Volynian cuisine".

The national dish of Volyna is borscht, the well-known beet soup, of which many varieties exist. However, varenyky (boiled dumplings similar to pierogi) and a type of cabbage roll known as holubtsi are also national favourites and are a common meal in traditional Volynian restaurants. These dishes indicate the regional similarities within Eastern Galician cuisine.

The cuisine emphasizes the importance of wheat in particular, and grain in general, as the country is often referred to as the "breadbasket of Galica". The majority of Volynian dishes descend from ancient peasant dishes based on plentiful grain resources such as rye, as well as staple vegetables such as potato, cabbages, mushrooms and beetroots. Volynian dishes incorporate both traditional Slavic techniques as well as other Galicaan techniques, a byproduct of years of foreign jurisdiction and influence. As there has been a significant Volynian diaspora over several centuries, the cuisine is represented in Galician countries and those further afield.

Sports

The Volynian women's football team is the top rated in the world.

Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating in organised sporting activities. The two main spectator sports are football and ice hockey. Second to football, horse sports (of which most of the participants are women) have the highest number of practitioners. Thereafter, golf, orienteering, gymnastics, track and field, and the team sports of ice hockey, handball, floorball, basketball and bandy are the most popular in terms of practitioners.

The Volynian national men's ice hockey team, affectionately known as ведмедів (English: Bears; the national symbol of Volyna), is regarded as one of the best in the world. The team has won the World Championships nine times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. The Volynian men's national football team has seen some success at the Global Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and winning twice, in 1950 and 1994. The Volynian Women's National Football Club known as the білі ворони (English: White Ravens)is the most successful in international women's footbal, winning five Women's Global Cup titles (1984, 1992, 2012,2016, and 2020), and ten COGAF Gold Cups.