He became a Lieutenant in January 1874, but as he was still too young, he was the only one of Tsar Alexander II's sons not to take part in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78).
El a devenit locotenent în ianuarie 1874 însă era prea tânăr, a fost singurul fiu al Țarului care nu a participat la Războiul ruso-turc din 1877-78.