He did a lot of sports in the Navy, was a champion in French boxing and wrestling, and knew jiu-jitsu well, he was able to defeat any opponent with a quick capture without much stress.

[2] He returned to his home town after the Revolution, where he established a partisan band known as the "Black Guards" in order to wage guerrilla warfare against the local nobility.

[4] Following the invasion of Ukraine by the Central Powers in April 1918, Shchus attended an insurgent congress at Taganrog, where it was decided that they would regroup in the Huliaipole Raion and go on the offensive against the Ukrainian State and the occupation forces.

[9] Soon after, Shchus joined Makhno in infiltrating a meeting between Austrian officers and supporters of the White movement, during which they killed everyone involved by throwing a grenade into the room.

[12] Shchus' tendency to embark on unjustified raids brought him under close watch,[2] with one of his best friends being shot for imposing levies on peasant property.