The rank of poruchik (; ; ) or poruchnik (; ; ; ), translated to lieutenant, is used in Slavophone armed forces, depending on the country being either the lowest or second lowest officer rank.
The rank designation might be derived from ; or . Normally the received military orders in written form and was responsible to meet the particular goals and objectives anticipated.
The Imperial Russian Army introduced this rank first in middle of the 17th century, by the Strelets so-called New Order Regiments , reflected in the Table of Ranks. A poruchik was normally assigned to assistant commanding officer of a company, later platoon. In 1798 this particular rank designation was replaced by lieutenant beginning with the Russian Guards, followed by other military units, and legalised by the Table of Ranks.
The rank of poruÃÂnik was adopted by the Revolutionary Serbian Army at the end of the First Serbian Uprising (1804âÂÂ13), alongside potporuÃÂnik and others.
It was the third lowest commissioned officer rank in the Royal Serbian Army (1882âÂÂ1918).
It is today the second lowest commissioned officer rank in the Serbian Armed Forces.