The corps headquarters moved from Pskov to Kamenets-Podolsk in May 1939, transferring to the Kiev Special Military District together with its 16th Cavalry Division.

After the relocation of the corps headquarters, Gonin was found drunkenly harassing passerby in the streets of Kamenets-Podolsk on 18 June.

The corps took part in the Soviet invasion of Poland, advancing into the region annexed as western Ukraine in September 1939, with the 9th and 16th Cavalry Divisions assigned.

In December, Gonin was transferred to command the 34th Rifle Corps in the Winter War, and subsequently shot for drinking instead of leading his troops.

The 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps participated in the rest of the War as part of the Kalinin, Western, Bryansk, 1st and 2nd Baltic, South-West, South, Stalingrad, Don, 2nd and 3rd Belorussian fronts.