[1] The transliteration is also in common usage for the sake of tradition dating back to the Old Slavonic word "polk" (literally: regiment sized unit), and include the following names in alphabetical order: In Russia, the rank of lieutenant colonel is called podpolkovnik (Russian: подполко́вник, lit. 'sub-colonel').

First it appeared in Russia as appointment or assignment to the assistant or deputy commander of a regiment sized military formation at the end of the 15th — early 16th centuries.

From the 17th - to early 17th century, there was a rank and an appointment under the designation polupolkovnik (Russian: полуполко́вник, IPA: [polʊpɐlˈkovnʲɪk]).

Beyond its normal responsibilities, he was in charge to command the second half of the regiment, the rear -, reserve -, and other regular units (until the introduction of the battalion structure).

In line to this reform, the shoulder board rank insignia had been changed from two big stars to three smaller ones.

To the formations of the so-called leyb-guard (Russian: лейб гва́рдия, romanized: leyb-gvardija, IPA: [lʲejb ˈɡvardʲɪjə]), the rank podpolkovnik had not been introduced.

Normally, kapitan officers might have been promoted to polkovnik immediately, by skipping the ranks major and podpolkovnik.

However, in the Russian army of general Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel the podpolkovnik rank was reestablished in April 1920.

An equivalent rank to podpolkovnik was created in 1924, by the introduction of the so-called status category 8 rank – (English: 'assistant commander of the regiment and equivalent personnel'; Russian: помо́щник команди́ра полка́ и ему́ ра́вные, IPA: [pɐˈmoʂnʲɪk kəmɐnʲˈdʲirə pɐlˈka i jɪˈmu ˈravnɨje]).

By the first promotion to that particular rank the hitherto (old) polkovnik collar distinction insignia with three parallel bars had to be used.

In the military political organization, it was equivalent to starshy battalion commissar (Russian: ста́рший батальо́нный комисса́р, IPA: [ˈstarʂɨj bətɐˈlʲjɵnːɨj kəmʲɪˈsar]), another corresponding rank designation was Specialist 1st rank (pertaining to: military engineers, surgeons, commissionaires, veterinary surgeons, and legal personnel).

From this moment in the podpolkovnik rank of the Red Army was specified by two big horizontal stars, on shoulder boards, with parallel piping (two straps).

The stars had to be established on a distance of 35 mm from the lower end of the shoulder board (Rules to wear military uniforms in the Soviet Army and the Navy).