Polkovnik

{{Infobox military rank

| name = Colonel

| native_name = {{lang|ru|Полко́вник|italic=no}}
({{lang|ru-Latn|Polkovnik}})

| image = {{nobreak|50px 50px}}

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Army and air force insignia

| image2 =

| caption2 =

| country = {{flag|Russian Empire}} (17th century)
{{flag|USSR}} (1935–1991)
{{flag|Russia}}

| service branch = {{army|Russia}}
{{air force|Russia}}

| abbreviation =

| rank = Stab-ofizer

| NATO rank =

| Non-NATO rank =

| formation = 17th century

| abolished =

| higher rank = Generál-mayór

| lower rank = Podpolkovnik

| equivalents = Kapitan 1st rank (Navy)

| history =

}}

In the 17th century, {{Lang|ru-latn|polkovnik}} became the position of a regimental commander of the streltsy; 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 {{Lang|ru-latn|polkovnik}} gave a privilege of hereditary nobility.

The Red Army reintroduced the {{Lang|ru-latn|polkovnik}} rank in 1935, together with a number of other former Russian ranks, and it continued to be in used in many ex-USSR countries, including Russia.

The Rank insignia to Polkovnik (OF-5) is as follows:

File:1904ic-p07.png|{{center|Shoulder board Pokovnik IRA until 1917}}

File:1911-ir001-p15.png|{{center|Nevsky 1st Infantry Regiment}}

File:1904ossr01-15.png|{{center|Siberian 1st of His Highness Infantry Regiment}}

File:1904-ip100-p15.png|{{center|25th Infantry division}}

File:1904ir036-p15.png|{{center|Ivanogorodsky 99th infantry regiment}}

File:Red Army Polkovnik-1940 & Podpolkovnik-1943v.png|{{center|Gorget patch RA, Land forces (1935-1940)}}

File:RA AF F5-Polkovnik-1940 F4-Podpolkovnik-1943v.png|{{center|... Air Force (1935-1940)}}

File:RA A F5-Polkovnik 1943v.png|{{center|land forces RA (1940-1943)}}

File:RA AF F5-Polkovnik 1943v.png|{{center|Air Force (1940-1943)}}

File:RA-SA A-inf F5Col 1955.png|{{center|Shoulder board RA infantry/ motorized infantry (1943-1946)/ CA (1946-55)}}

File:RAF A F5Col since 2010par.svg|{{center|parade uniform, Land forces (1955-1994), and since 2010}}

File:RAF AF F5Col since 2010par.svg|{{center|... ABF, AF, Aviation of the ADF (1955-1994), and since 2010}}

File:Russia-Army-OF-5-1994-field.svg|{{center|everyday uniform, Ground forces until 2010}}

File:Russia-AirBorne-OF-5-1994-field.svg|{{center|..., ABF until 2010}}

File:Russia-AirForce-OF-5-1994-field.svg|{{center|..., AF until 2010}}

File:Russia-Army-OF-5-camo.svg|{{center|field uniform until 2010}}

File:RAF A F5-Polkovnik 2010shirt.png|{{center|parade uniform shirt, Ground forces until 2010}}

File:Russia-Navy-OF-5-1994-parade.svg|{{center|everyday uniform Naval forces on land until 2010}}

File:VMY Полковник ВВ.gif|{{center|everyday uniform jacket Internal Troops}}

File:Russia-Army-OF-5-2010.svg|{{center|everyday uniform jacket, Ground forces since 2010}}

File:Russia-Army-OF-5.svg|{{center|field uniform since 2010}}

File:RAF NA F5-Polkovniken after2010.png|{{center|everyday uniform jacket (Naval Aviation) since 2010}}

File:Russia-Police-OF-5-2013.svg|{{center|Polkovnik of the Police (until 2011 — Militsiya), also National Guard}}

• Ranks and insignia of the Russian armed forces until 1917
• Ranks and insignia of the Red Army 1935–1940, and ... 1940–1943
• Ranks and insignia of the Soviet Army 1943–1955, and ... 1955–1991
• Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010

{{unreferenced-section|date=December 2017}}

The rank was first introduced in the armies of the Commonwealth in the 17th century to denote a captain (rotmistrz) of the core banner of a regiment. By the end of the 17th century, the title of the assignment became a de facto rank as such and started to denote the commanding officer of the entire regiment. In mercenary troops fighting in the ranks of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's army, the direct equivalent of the rank of pułkownik was oberszter, but in the 18th century the rank was abolished and renamed as pułkownik as well.

During the Sanation in the period between World War I and World War II, a large number of officers were promoted to the rank, often for political reasons (the rule of the Sanation was even dubbed the government of the colonels because of that).

During the Invasion of Poland in 1939, the Polish divisions were commanded by officers of many grades, from colonels to three-star generals. In fact 22 divisions out of 42 were commanded by colonels in 1939. The pułkownicy (plural of pułkownik) also commanded units of all sizes, from divisions down to mere battalions.

In the Zaporozhian Host, the political, social, and military organization of Ukrainian cossacks, the title polkovnyk indicated a high military rank among the Ukrainian Cossack starshyna (officers); a polkovnyk commanded one or more military detachments during land and naval military actions in the 16th to 18th centuries. In the 18th century, a polkovnyk was a leader of a palanka, a territorial unit of the Zaporozhian Host. The military council elected a palanka polkovnyk to serve for a term of one year. He represented the Kosh Otaman in the palanka and had significant powers, including the right to condemn Cossacks to the death penalty. At the time of liquidation of the Zaporozhian Host by the Russian government in 1775, there were eight palanka polkovnyks. As symbol of office a polkovnyk wore a pernach (a mace with a hexagonal head; see also bulava) in his belt.

In the Registered Cossack Army of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th and 17th centuries, a polkovnyk commanded a regiment ({{lang|uk|полк}}, polk), a Cossack military unit. After the reform of the Cossack army by hetman Mykhailo Doroshenko in the 1620s there were six Cossack regiments, each comprising one thousand Cossacks. Polkovnyks were elected by the Cossack Council ({{lang|uk|рада}}, rada) subject to the approval of the Polish government. A polkovnyk obtained a salary for his service, and enjoyed considerable privileges. After the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted the "Ordination" of 1638, only noblemen (szlachta) were allowed to become polkovnyks.

During Khmelnytsky Uprising (1648–1657) and in the Cossack Hetmanate (1649–1764; also in the Slobozhanshchyna in 1652–1765), a polkovnyk headed a territorial administrative unit, the regiment ({{lang|uk|полк}}). In terms of Nobility, Khmelnytsky's Polkovnyks were recognized as equal to Lithuania's Barons.{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57754186 |title=God's playground: a history of Poland: in two volumes |date=2005 |isbn=0-231-12816-9 |edition=2 |location=New York |oclc=57754186}}

File:15.AzAF-COL.png|{{lang|az|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=Azərbaycan Respublikası Silahlı Qüvvələri hərbi qulluqçularının hərbi geyim forması və fərqləndirmə nişanları haqqında Əsasnamə |url=https://mod.gov.az//images/pdf/854d34d118da32783a511172925270d7.pdf |website=mod.gov.az |publisher=Ministry of Defense |access-date=16 February 2021 |language=az |pages=64–70 |date=25 June 2001}}
(Azerbaijani Land Forces)

File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|be|Палкоўнік}}
{{lang|be-Latn|Palkoŭnik}}{{cite web |title=Указ Президента Республики Беларусь от 21.07.2009 N 388 "О военной форме одежды, знаках различия по воинским званиям и внесении дополнений в Указ Президента Республики Беларусь от 9 июня 2006 г. N 383" |url=http://pravo.levonevsky.org/bazaby11/republic09/text814.htm |website=pravo.levonevsky.org/ |publisher=Government of Belarus |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=ru}}
(Belarusian Ground Forces)

File:Bosnia&Herzegovina-Army-OF-4.svg|{{lang|bs|Pukovnik}}{{cite web |title=OBILJEŽJA I ČINOVI OS BIH |url=http://os.mod.gov.ba/vojna-oprema-naoruzanje-i-simboli-os-bih/oznake-cinova-i-uniforme-u-os-bih/Obilje%c5%beja_i_cinovi_OS_BiH/default.aspx?id=1737&langTag=bs-BA&template_id=181&pageIndex=1 |website=os.mod.gov.ba |publisher=Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine |access-date=30 September 2019 |language=bs}}
(Bosnian Ground Forces)

File:Rank insignia of Полковник of the Bulgarian Army.png|{{lang|bg|Полковник}}
{{lang|bg-Latn|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=ЗАКОН ЗА ОТБРАНАТА И ВЪОРЪЖЕНИТЕ СИЛИ НА РЕПУБЛИКА БЪЛГАРИЯ |url=https://www.lex.bg/bg/laws/ldoc/2135631954 |website=lex.bg |access-date=25 May 2021 |location=Глава седма. ВОЕННА СЛУЖБА |language=bg |date=12 May 2009}}
(Bulgarian Land Forces)

File:Army-HRV-OF-04.svg|{{lang|hr|Pukovnik}}{{cite web |title=Oznake činova |url=http://www.osrh.hr/#rubData/HTML/HR/RAZNO/OZNAKE/20190401_Galerija_oznaka/Galerija_oznaka_HR.htm |website=osrh.hr |publisher=Republic of Croatia Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=hr |date=1 April 2019}}
(Croatian Army)

File:CzArmy 2011 OF5-Plukovnik shoulder.svg|{{lang|cs|Plukovník}}{{cite web |title=Ranks |url=https://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=49065 |website=army.cz |publisher=Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic |date=2018 |access-date=26 May 2021}}
(Czech Land Forces)

File:Georgia-Army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|ka|პოლკოვნიკი}}
{{lang|ka-Latn|P’olk’ovnik’i}}{{cite web |title=სამხედრო წოდებები და ინსიგნიები |trans-title=Military Ranks and Insignia |url=https://mod.gov.ge/ge/page/34/samxedro-wodebebi-da-insigniebii |website=mod.gov.ge |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Georgia |access-date=12 March 2018 |language=ka}}
(Georgian Land Forces)

File:16-RKGF-COL.svg|{{lang|kk|Полковник}}
{{lang|kk-Latn|Polkovnïk}}{{cite web |title=Қазақстан Республикасының Қарулы Күштері, басқа да әскерлері мен әскери құралымдары әскери қызметшілерінің әскери киім нысаны және айырым белгілері туралы |url=https://adilet.zan.kz/kaz/docs/U1100000144 |website=adilet.zan.kz |publisher=Ministry of Justice (Kazakhstan) |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=kk |date=25 August 2011}}
(Kazakh Ground Forces)

File:13.Kyrgyzstan Army-COL.svg|{{lang|ky|Полковник}}
{{lang|ky-Latn|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=Кыргыз Республикасынын жарандарынын жалпыга бирдей аскердик милдети жөнүндө, аскердик жана альтернативдик кызматтар жөнүндө |url=http://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/act/view/ky-kg/202536 |website=cbd.minjust.gov.kg/ |publisher=Ministry of Justice (Kyrgyzstan) |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=ky |date=9 February 2009}}
(Kyrgyz Army)

File:Latvia-Army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|lv|Pulkvedis}}{{cite web |title=Pakāpju iedalījums |url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/aktivais-dienests/dienesta-gaita/dienesta-pakapes/pakapju-iedalijums |website=mil.lv/lv |publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=lv}}
(Latvian Land Forces)

File:18-Lithuania Army-COL.svg|{{lang|lt|Pulkininkas}}'{{cite web |title=Karių laipsnių ženklai |url=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/kariu_laipsniu_zenklai_3554.html |website=kariuomene.kam.lt |publisher=Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania) |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=lt}}
(Lithuanian Land Forces)

File:North-Macedonia-Army-OF-4.svg|{{lang|mk|Полковник}}
{{lang|mk-Latn|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=УРЕДБА ЗА ОЗНАКИТЕ ЗА УНИФОРМИТЕ НА АРМИЈАТА НА РЕПУБЛИКА СЕВЕРНА МАКЕДОНИЈА |trans-title=Regulation on the Markings for the Uniforms of the Army of the Republic Northern of Macedonia |url=https://dejure.mk/zakon/uredba-za-oznakite-za-uniformite-na-armijata-na-republika-severna-makedonija-1 |website=dejure.mk |access-date=24 May 2021 |language=mk |date=12 November 2020}}
(North Macedonian Ground Forces)

File:15-Montenegro Army-COL.svg|{{lang|sr-Latn|Pukovnik}}
(Montenegrin Ground Army){{cite journal |title=IV. Izgled Činova u Vojsci |journal=Official Gazette of Montenegro |date=16 August 2010 |volume=50/10 |pages=22–28 |url=https://wapi.gov.me/download-preview/f21585eb-2399-4cf3-ab40-7f0e245093be?version=1.0 |access-date=17 September 2021 |language=cnr}}

File:Army-POL-OF-05.svg|{{lang|pl|Pułkownik}}{{cite web |title=Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu wojsk Lądowych i sił Powietrznych |url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/iwsp/u/14/fc/14fc23f7-28a0-4a42-9ac0-287d512ffcb9/08b_oznaki_stopni_wojskowych_na_umundurowaniu_wl_i_sp_ok.pdf |website=wojsko-polskie.pl |publisher=Armed Forces Support Inspectorate |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=pl}}
(Polish Land Forces)

File:Russia-Army-OF-5-2010.svg|{{lang|ru|Полко́вник}}
{{lang|ru-Latn|Polkóvnik}}{{cite web |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 11 марта 2010 года № 293 "О военной форме одежды, знаках различия военнослужащих и ведомственных знаках отличия" |url=https://rg.ru/2010/03/12/forma-dok.html |website=rg.ru |publisher=Российской газеты |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=ru |date=12 March 2010}}
(Russian Ground Forces)

File:14-Serbian Army-COL.svg|{{lang|sr|Пуковник}}
{{lang|sr-Latn|Pukovnik}}{{cite web |title=ЧИНОВИ У ВОЈСЦИ СРБИЈЕ |url=http://www.vs.rs/sr_cyr/o-vojsci/obelezja-i-oznake/cinovi-u-vojsci-srbije |website=vs.rs |publisher=Serbian Armed Forces |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=sr}}
(Serbian Army)

File:Army-SVK-OF-05.svg|{{lang|sk|Plukovník}}{{cite web |title=Označenie vojenských hodností príslušníkov Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej republiky od 1.1.2016 |trans-title=Designation of military ranks of members of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic from 1.1.2016 |url=http://www.vhu.sk/oznacenie-vojenskych-hodnosti-prislusnikov-ozbrojenych-sil-slovenskej-republiky-od-112016/ |website=vhu.sk |publisher=Military History Institute |access-date=12 April 2021 |language=sk}}
(Slovak Ground Forces)

File:17-Slovenian Army-COL.svg|{{lang|sl|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=Čini in razredi |url=https://www.slovenskavojska.si/o-vojski/cini-in-razredi/ |website=slovenskavojska.si |publisher=Slovenian Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=sl}}
(Slovenian Ground Force)

File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|tg|Полковник}}
{{lang|tg-Latn|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=ҚОНУНИ ҶУМҲУРИИ ТОҶИКИСТОН ДАР БОРАИ ЎҲДАДОРИИ УМУМИИ ҲАРБӢ ВА ХИЗМАТИ ҲАРБӢ |url=https://majmilli.tj/%D2%9B%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D2%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D2%B3%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D1%82%D0%BE%D2%B7%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8-35/ |website=majmilli.tj |publisher=The National Assembly of the Republic of Tajikistan |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=tg |date=13 April 2017}}
(Tajik National Army)

File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|tk|Polkownik}}{{cite web |title=TÜRKMENISTANYŇ KANUNY Harby borçlulyk we harby gulluk hakynda (Türkmenistanyň Mejlisiniň Maglumatlary 2010 ý., № 3, 58-nji madda) (Türkmenistanyň 01.10.2011 ý. № 234-IV Kanuny esasynda girizilen üýtgetmeler we goşmaçalar bilen) |trans-title=LAW OF TURKMENISTAN On military service and military service (Information of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, 2010, No. 3, Article 58) (as amended by the Law of Turkmenistan of October 1, 2011 No. 234-IV) |url=https://milligosun.gov.tm/storage/file/04-harby-borclulyk-we-harby-gulluk-hakynda-ky9J0pKxTQ.pdf |website=milligosun.gov.tm |publisher=Ministry of Defense (Turkmenistan) |access-date=2 June 2021 |pages=28–29 |language=tk}}
(Turkmen Ground Forces)

File:UA shoulder mark 17.svg|{{lang|uk|Полковник}}
{{lang|uk-Latn|Polkovnyk}}{{cite web |title=НАКАЗ 20.11.2017 № 606 |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z1502-17#Text |website=zakon.rada.gov.ua |publisher=Ministry of Justice of Ukraine |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=uk |date=13 December 2017}}
(Ukrainian Ground Forces)

File:Uzbekistan-army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|uz|Polkovnik}}{{cite web |title=O'zbekiston Respublikasi fuqarolarining harbiy xizmatni o'tash tartibi to'g'risida |url=https://lex.uz/docs/-4513434 |website=lex.uz |publisher=Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=uz |date=12 September 2019}}
(Uzbek Ground Forces)

• Lieutenant (Eastern Europe)
• Lieutenant colonel (Eastern Europe)
• Lieutenant colonel general
• Comparative army officer ranks of Europe

{{Reflist}}

• Гайдай Л. Історія України в особах, термінах, назвах і поняттях.-Луцьк: Вежа, 2000. {{in lang|uk}}
• [http://history.franko.lviv.ua/dovidnyk.htm Довідник з історії України.За ред. І.Підкови та Р.Шуста.- К.: Генеза, 1993] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410032820/http://history.franko.lviv.ua/dovidnyk.htm |date=2009-04-10 }}. {{in lang|uk}}
• [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=2232-12 ЗАКОН УКРАЇНИ Про військовий обов'язок і військову службу] {{in lang|uk}}
• [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1053%2F2001 Про положення про проходження військової служби відповідними категоріями військовослужбовців] {{in lang|uk}}
• [https://archive.today/20121205105348/http://www.rusnavy.ru/d03/191.htm История Советского флота] {{in lang|ru}}
• [http://www.soldat.ru/spravka/rank/ Воинские звания военнослужащих России и СССР] {{in lang|ru}}
• [http://army.armor.kiev.ua/titul/index.shtml Воинские звания] {{in lang|ru}}
• [http://www.oval.ru/enc/27377.html Звания воинские] {{in lang|ru}}
• [http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=main The International Encyclopedia of Uniform and Rank Insignia around the World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226131213/http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=main |date=2007-02-26 }} {{in lang|en}}

{{Star officer ranks}}

{{Military ranks by country}}

Category:Military ranks

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Category:Military ranks of the Soviet Union