Litvinov was educated in the 1st Moscow military school and entered military service on August 5, 1870. He graduated from the 3rd Military Alexandrovskoye and Mikhaylovskoye Artillery School in 1873. In 1882 he graduated from the Academy of General Staff of the Mykolayiv.
He was appointed a lieutenant (August 10, 1873) in the 1st Horse-Artillery Brigade. He then served in the 2nd Cavalry Artillery team He then went to the Vilensky Military District.
Then on June 12, 1896, he became commander of the 4th Pskov Dragoon Regiment.
On September 20, 1900, he was put in command of the Warsaw Military District. He reached the rank of lieutenant-general on December 6, 1905, and was appointed Head of the 1st Cavalry Division on October 9, 1906.
On March 9, 1911, he became commander of the 5th Army Corps and General of Cavalry on December 6, 1911. At the head of the 7th and 10th Infantry Division, he entered the First World War in the 5th Army.
However at a meeting of commanders held at Siedlce on November 17, 1914, he was appointed commander of the 1st Army replacing General Paul von Rennenkampf.
After the February Revolution of April 2, 1917, he was dismissed from the service with uniform and pension. From 1918 he served in the Red Army.
He fought in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 attaining the rank of captain on December 18, 1880. On November 24, 1882, he was appointed Senior Staff Adjutant to the 4th Cavalry Division, attaining the rank of colonel on March 24, 1885. On September 29, 1886, he was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Vilno Military District. On April 19, 1890, he became Chief of Staff of the 2nd Cavalry Division. He attained the rank of major-general on June 23, 1899, and was given a special assignment with the Don Cossacks. On November 9, 1906, he was once again made Chief of Staff of the Vilno Military District.
