Russia

In the year 2040, Russia is a fractured land—scarred by the aftereffects of the Global Conflict of 2021 and the 2030 Incident. The country that once stood as a superpower is now a landscape of ruin, desolation, and forgotten ambitions. Cities lie in ruins, vast wastelands stretch for miles, and the people who remain are either fighting to survive or desperately clinging to the remnants of the old world. Russia, in this new age, is no longer a unified country. It is a patchwork of isolated exclaves, roving warbands, and dangerous, resource-rich zones ruled by powerful factions.

The Silent Array and the Crossed Plague have further complicated life for the survivors. In pockets of Russian territory, strange phenomena and horrific mutations continue to shape the land and the people, often beyond the understanding of those who live there. But amid all this chaos, a new political and social order is beginning to emerge, with power shifting from the government and military to organized criminal syndicates, local warlords, and nomadic tribes. Russia is no longer about politics or ideology—it’s about survival and control.

Moscow: The Ruined Heart of Russia

Moscow, once a proud symbol of Russia’s strength, stands as a ghost of its former self. The city has been hollowed out by war, radiation, and the remnants of past disasters. Its iconic skyline is now a collection of skeletal towers, rusted infrastructure, and abandoned government buildings. What remains is a city dominated by chaos, where the few survivors have formed small enclaves, huddling for protection from the wasteland beyond.

Moscow’s Metro system has become the lifeblood of these survivors, serving as both refuge and trading post for the people who call the ruins home. The Silent Array, an enigmatic phenomenon, is centered somewhere beneath the city. It distorts all technological systems, making it nearly impossible to communicate, navigate, or even function within certain parts of Moscow. Those who venture too close to the Silent Array experience hallucinations, memory loss, and reality-warping anomalies. The area remains a terrifying, forbidden zone, though rumors abound of strange technologies and artifacts buried beneath the ground. Some even whisper that the Silent Array is a remnant of the 2030 Incident, a leftover force that has evolved into something beyond human comprehension.

Despite the dangers, a handful of small survivor groups attempt to scavenge the ruins of Moscow, hoping to find valuable resources, ancient tech, or maybe even a clue as to why the Silent Array exists. But such quests are perilous. The Silent Array is not the only threat in Moscow. The Crossed Plague has spread into the city, with mutated victims roaming the dark corners of its vast underground. The survivors who remain have learned to adapt quickly to a life of scarcity and fear, and Moscow’s dystopian society is shaped by distrust and the ever-present struggle for survival.

Petrograd: The Criminal Heart of the New Russia

To the north, Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg) is one of the few remaining cities of significant size in Russia. Here, the power of the Russian mob has grown exponentially. Once confined to the underground, the criminal organizations have infiltrated every aspect of Petrograd’s life. With the central government gone, the mafia has stepped into the power vacuum and now controls much of the city’s commerce, infrastructure, and military capabilities.

The Russian mob in Petrograd is not the same as it was before the Global Conflict. The syndicates have evolved into intricate power structures, with various factions vying for control of the city's resources. The mafia has expanded into a quasi-political entity, and its influence stretches well beyond Petrograd's borders. These factions deal in illicit trade, weapons, technology, and even human trafficking, often manipulating the few remaining remnants of the old Russian military and government for their own gain.

At the same time, Petrograd has become a haven for those seeking refuge from the lawless wastes outside. The city’s underground markets and black markets are bustling, trading whatever goods can still be found—old world tech, food, medicine, and even mercenaries for hire. While Petrograd is one of the few places in Russia that maintains some semblance of structure, it is still a city built on violence, corruption, and exploitation.

As the mafia consolidates power, various factions fight for dominance. Some are former members of the old Soviet elite, seeking to rebuild Russia in their own image. Others are new power players—warlords and oligarchs who have emerged from the chaos, eager to claim control over Petrograd's resources. These factions engage in constant power struggles, plotting against one another in an ongoing battle for supremacy.

The Exclaves and Enclaves: Islands of Survival

In the wastelands that once made up Russia’s vast countryside, exclaves and enclaves of survivors have formed. These small, isolated pockets of civilization are scattered across the land, often separated by miles of desolate terrain, plagued by deadly storms, and besieged by mutants and criminals. The survivors here are a mix of former soldiers, civilians, and scavengers who have learned to adapt to their harsh environments.

These enclaves are often self-sustaining, relying on small farms, scavenged technology, and barter systems to survive. Some enclaves have become fortified, turning into small city-states ruled by local warlords or leaders who maintain control through force or strategic alliances. Others are loose confederations of smaller groups that cooperate for mutual protection. Despite the constant danger, these enclaves are often the only source of hope for people still clinging to life in the Russian wastelands.

One of the largest exclaves in the region is Vorkuta, a former mining town turned fortified settlement. Situated far to the north, Vorkuta has become a hub for scavengers and mercenaries, who brave the freezing temperatures and deadly creatures of the tundra in search of valuable resources. Vorkuta has become a microcosm of Russia’s fractured society, with various factions vying for control of its gates and resources.

The Crossed Plague

The Crossed Plague is a horrific biological affliction that has ravaged much of Russia. It spreads rapidly through infected blood and saliva, turning its victims into violent, rage-fueled creatures—known as the Crossed. These people are still living, but their minds and bodies have been twisted by the plague. Crossed victims exhibit no fear, no remorse, and no hesitation, driven solely by an insatiable hunger and a need to spread the infection.

The origins of the Crossed Plague remain unclear, though many believe it was a product of the 2030 Incident, a failed experiment, or the result of an unknown biological weapon used during the conflict. The plague has ravaged entire cities, and no cure is in sight. The Crossed are particularly dangerous because they retain some semblance of human ability, making them deadly and unpredictable. Whole regions of Russia are considered no-go zones, due to the presence of large Crossed populations.

The survivors who live near these areas have developed strict protocols for avoiding infection, and many cities and settlements have erected walls or high-tech barriers to prevent the spread of the plague. Despite the risks, some survivors venture into these territories to salvage anything of value or to explore the ruins of cities overrun by the Crossed.

Russia’s Political Power Structures

In 2040, Russia’s power structures are in disarray. The central government has collapsed, and the military is fractured, with remnants of old forces scattered across the wastelands. As a result, new political entities have risen, ranging from criminal syndicates to local warlords, mercenary bands, and religious cults. These groups often compete for territory, resources, and control over the few remaining cities and vital trade routes.

In the absence of a unified government, power is often determined by force, cunning, and alliances. The Russian mafia in Petrograd serves as a powerful example of the new political order, but there are countless other factions across the country. Some warlords and military leaders retain significant influence, using old Soviet tactics to maintain control over their domains. Others, like the Nomads of the Tundra, are roving bands of survivors who’ve rejected the idea of permanent settlements, instead choosing to wander and trade across the desolate plains.

The lack of a centralized authority means that life in Russia is highly decentralized, with each region ruled by different factions. These groups often form temporary alliances or engage in brutal conflicts, but in the end, it is the strongest who survive.

Conclusion

Russia in 2040 is a place of stark contrast—where ruin meets survival, and the remnants of old powers struggle against the forces that have redefined the world. The Silent Array, the Crossed Plague, and the pervasive decay of the land shape the daily lives of its people, while warlords and mafia factions battle for control of what little remains. Moscow, Petrograd, and the scattered enclaves represent the last vestiges of human civilization, but even these islands of hope are slowly being consumed by the vast wastelands that surround them. Amidst the chaos, the survivors—whether scavengers, nomads, or warlords—continue to fight for a future in a land where nothing is certain and nothing is guaranteed.