 In 1985 Yevtyukhin graduated from the Margelov Higher Airborne Command School in Ryazan.After graduation, from 1985 to 1988 Yevtyukhin took part in the Soviet–Afghan War, as a member of the 104th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 76th Guards Airborne Division, and later took part in Russian peacekeeping missions in Abkhazia and Bosnia, and the First Chechen War.His younger brother Igor, an officer in the Russian Naval Infantry, also fought in the first Chechen War and was presumed killed in action, leading to his father having a heart attack, yet it was discovered three days later he had only been wounded.