Polkovnik (Russian: полко́вник), universally treated as Colonel, began as a commander of a distinct group of troops, Old Slavonic polk (полк), arranged for a particular battle. In late 1600s, it became a position of a regimental commander of the Strelets Troops; this position also made it into New Regiments of the Streltsy and later into the new army of Peter the Great. The rank was legalized by Table of Ranks that placed it in the 6th grade as the second-top field officer, right under the Brigadier. A promotion to the rank of Polkovnik gave a privilege for hereditary dvoryanstvo. Podpolkovnik ('Sub-Polkovnik') is equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel. The Red Army reintroduced the Polkovnik rank in 1935, together with a number of other former Russian ranks, and it has been used in many ex-USSR countries, including Russian Federation, to the present day. It is also used in Slovenian Armed Forces, as well as in the Military of Bulgaria.
