Starshina

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Starshina, or Starshyna (Ukrainian and Russian: старшина́, from старший, starshyi, "senior"), had a number of meanings, all related to the position of chiefdom.

Among Ukrainian Cossacks, starshina was a collective noun for categories of officership: junior starshina (младшый старшина), general starshina (Генеральный Старшина), military starshina (воинский старшина), substarshina (подстаршина).

In Imperial Russia of 17-20th centuries a volostnoy starshina was a chief of a volost (a rural administrative unit). He was in charge of the distribution of taxes, resolving conflicts within obshchina, distribution of the usage of community lands, assigning people for military service, etc.

The rank of voiskovoi starshina ("starshina of the voisko") was introduced into Russian military ranks in 1826, as equivalent of a sub-polkovnik in the Cossack cavalry.

In the Soviet Army, a starshina was the highest non-commissioned officer among conscripts; this was changed by reintroduction of the higher-ranking praporshchik in 1972. In the Soviet Navy, it was introduced in 1942 as a petty officer rank; every enlisted seaman ranking above matrose, 1st class is a starshina of various ranks.

The starshina as an enlisted rank is still used in Russian military ranks, in the Army and Navy.