Russia

Ivan Braginski, also known as Russia and Russian Federation, is one of the main characters from the Hetalia series.
== Charactah Account ==
The largest nation in the world by area, Russia's a tall character with an intimidating air about him. He comes off as kind and sweet, but is actually off his rocker, one could say. His hair is light blonde and his eyes are violet, but were colored blue in earlier artwork. In the anime adaptation, his hair was colored beige.
Belarus and Ukraine are his sisters. Ukraine basically raised him and Belarus, and was the one that gave him his scarf (which is beige in the manga, but was colored pink in the anime). Belarus is madly in love with him, and wants to marry him. Usually when he thinks about either of them, he becomes very depressed afterwards.
In the past, Russia had control over the Baltic Brothers (Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia). The three worked in his house and were the subjects of his torment. He especially picked on Latvia, whom he teased because of his height. Russia also showed particular interest in Lithuania, even forcing him to accompany him on a trip when Lithuania said that he had a date with Belarus that day. 
== Appearance ==
=== Anime ===
* Hetalia Axis Powers
* Hetalia Axis Powers Movie: Paint it, White
* Hetalia World Series
* Hetalia World Series Specials
* Hetalia World Stars
* Hetalia: The Beautiful World
* Hetalia: The Beautiful World Extra Disc
* Hetalia: The World Twinkle
* Hetalia: The World Twinkle Extra Disc
=== Manga ===
* Hetalia Axis Powers
== Trivia ==
* Due to his thick clothing and his tall, somewhat heavyset appearance in comparison to the other characters, a fan had asked Hidekaz Himaruya if Russia was fat. The in-character answer from "Russia" was that he was simply "big-boned". A later black-and-white sketch also depicts Russia wearing a shirt that claims such.
* In the World War-set strips, Russia technically represents the Soviet Republic, rather than the Russian Federation (as evidenced by his flag). However, Himaruya explained in liner notes that he was simply called Russia in the series due to it being cuter and the kana being simpler to write. His birthday being given as December 30th also corresponds with the date that the Soviet Union was founded. Although, another possibility for Russia's birthday could be June 12, as that date corresponds with the day the First Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation had adopted the State Sovereignty of the RSFSR on June 12, 1990. To this day, Russia Day is celebrated on June 12.
* While the flag used for Russia is the Soviet flag in most of the webcomic, the published version of the manga, as well as the anime and merchandise, has opted to use the standard Russian flag.
* Russia's jacket is a stylized Red Army overcoat, with the colors more or less reversed.
* In response to a fan's question (circa 2007), Himaruya stated that Russia is unaware of his own cruelty.
* In chapter four of the Hetalia manga, after a heart pops out of Russia's chest, he claims it as his own, saying "it just pops out of me sometimes". Some fans see it as possibly symbolic of the heartbreak he's suffered in his time, or a representation of just how mentally damaged he is (while the other Allies are completely freaked out, Russia doesn't even seem to mind that his own heart is literally falling out.)
* Notes in the special edition booklet for Hetalia: Axis Powers volume 3 revealed that Russia was originally intended to be dark-haired and middle-aged in appearance, as well as being a meek crybaby whose personality would reverse when he was drunk. However, Himaruya noted that he didn't like the plans, and made a new design from scratch when it came time for the Allies to appear.
* The instrumental part of his Marukaite Chikyuu is from "Коробейники/Korobeiniki" a Russian folk song popularized outside of Russia because of its use in Tetris.
== Gallery ==
File:Russia Render 01.png
File:Russia Render 02.png
File:Russia 01.png
File:Russia 02.png
File:Russia 03.png
File:Russia Fan Art 01.png
== External Links ==
* Russia at Hetalia Archives
Category:Characters
Category:Males
Category:Hetalia