[@Inkwell] I may have to side with Hugs on this in that perhaps some clipping might be done, as well as actually taking the map into MSPaint and using the fill bucket tool. I *think* the map up in the OP is the full size one. But if not:

[img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/be0f/f/2017/291/9/d/precipice_reboot_map_by_aaronmk-dbpzy13.png[/img]

But one thing I'd like to stress on the region is that that part of Russia is fairly mixed, and Russians are either in a minority or are no less a majority than any of the other groups. The region of Russia has had a history of being the center for many different people and even religions: Christians, Muslims, and even Buddhists. And without the sort of interference in the area as the Soviets had ran and the deportations to Siberia/Kazakhstan or entire populations fleeing the southern Caucus and southern Russian steppe as refugees escaping the Red Army much of that diversity would be preserved.

To a point they might operate well, if to depose the weakening Czar and Czarist state. But in settling they'd likely end up forming their own independent states.

That's the reasoning behind having the area broken down so much.

The region - especially in the north - is considerably flat, so even if trench works were dug the geography would have permitted a swift advance by the northern parties and I doubt as you said they would have held them off as well.