Mikhail Orchikov

There are conflicting reports of his rank, he has been referred to as anything from Captain to Colonel. In July 2021 he was a Major. It is unlikely he was promoted to full Colonel in under a year. Many sources do not distinguish between Lieutenant Colonels and full Colonels, and a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel would make more sense. All sources agree he was deputy commander of the regiment, which is a position usually filled by a Lieutenant Colonel. All that points to him having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel shortly before the war began.