' s ▁death , ▁the ▁Em press ▁arranged ▁for ▁R ae v sky ' s ▁mother ▁to ▁marry ▁a ▁wealth y ▁land owner , ▁Lev ▁Dav yd ov , ▁who ▁proved ▁to ▁be ▁a ▁gener ous ▁step father . ▁ ▁R ae v sky ▁was ▁en rolled ▁in ▁the ▁Le ib - Gu ard ▁S emy on ov sky ▁Regiment ▁at ▁a ▁very ▁early ▁age . ▁On ▁ 3 0 ▁April ▁ 1 7 7 7 ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁ser ge ant ▁and ▁on ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 1 7 8 6 ▁to ▁en sign . ▁On ▁ 2 3 ▁February ▁ 1 7 8 9 ▁he ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁N iz he gor od sky ▁Drag oon ▁Regiment ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁premier - major . ▁With ▁this ▁regiment ▁he ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁Rus so - T urk ish ▁War , ▁ 1 7 8 7 – 1 7 9 2 ▁and ▁distinguished ▁himself ▁at ▁B end ery ▁and ▁A kk erman . ▁In ▁recognition ▁of ▁his ▁valor , ▁R ae v sky ▁was ▁promoted ▁on ▁ 1 ▁September ▁ 1 7 9 0 ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁colon el ▁and ▁became ▁the ▁chief ▁of ▁a ▁C oss ack ▁regiment . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁peace ▁treat y ▁was ▁concluded , ▁he ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁Polish – Russ ian ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 7 9 2 ▁with ▁the ▁N iz he gor od sky ▁Drag oon ▁Regiment . ▁For ▁this ▁campaign ▁he ▁received ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁June ▁ 1 7