After the war he remained in the military until 1989; during his career he achieved the rank of Colonel-General of Aviation and served as commander of the Soviet Air Defence Forces from 1969 to 1977.

[1][2] Borovykh was deployed to the warfront of the Second World War in December 1941, initially as a pilot and flight commander in the 728th Fighter Aviation Regiment.

In the first two years of the war he completed 341 successful sorties and participated in 55 aerial battles, and was credited with shooting down 12 enemy planes.

In his next 49 aerial battles he was credited with shooting down 19 enemy planes, a feat that resulted in him being awarded a second Gold Star medal on 23 February 1945.

In 1949 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and in 1951 he graduated from the Air Force Academy in Monino, after which he became the deputy commander of the 9th Fighter Aviation Division.