He entered military service in 1793 as a private in the Kuban Jaeger Corps, in whose ranks he participated in the Persian expedition of 1796, distinguished himself in the capture of Derbent and was promoted to officer for the battle near Alpan.

In 1803 he was already a major, and in 1804 for the assault on Ganja, during which, commanding a battalion with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was the first to climb the city wall, was awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree.

[1] Ibrahim Khalil Khan asked Tsitsianov for military assistance to prevent the attack of Iranian troops and promised to help and remain loyal to Russia.

For these deeds he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree, the rank of major general and a gold saber with the inscription "For Bravery" and diamond jewelry (July 9, 1811).

Taking advantage of his free time from service, Lisanevich traveled, under an assumed name, accompanied by an interpreter, most of France and got acquainted with the laws and its internal administration.

Lisanevich arrived in the Caucasus in March 1825 and found the line in a difficult situation: the Circassians destroyed Russian colonies, Kabardia was engulfed in an uprising.