 Borkovský attended grammar school at Stanislavov between 1909 and 1913 and afterwards studied to become a teacher.Borkovský joined the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1915 and fought against Russia during the First World War.Between 1918 and 1920 he fought in the Ukrainian War of Independence and also became involved in the Russian Civil War, first as part of the White Army and then for the opposing Red Army.