Pavel Sergeievich Savvich comes from a Russian line of nobles of the Kharkov province.The younger brothers Alexander and Sergei were also generals.

Baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church, Pavel completed his high school education in Kharkov and graduated from the Vladimir Kiev Cadet Corps (1873) and the Mikhailovsky Artillery School (1876), from where he was released as a second lieutenant in the 31st Artillery Brigade.

Pavel took part in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878, including the capture of the Nikopol fortress, the battle of Plevna and in the transition of the Balkans with General Iosif Gurko.

After graduating from the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff in the 1st category in 1883, he was senior adjutant of the headquarters of the 10th Cavalry Division (1883–1884), chief officer for special assignments at the headquarters of the 10th Army Corps (1884–1887), senior adjutant of the headquarters of the Kharkov Military District (1887–1889) and, finally, staff officer for special assignments at the headquarters of the 10th Army Corps (1889–1894).

On8 October 1905, he was transferred to the same position in the Kostroma Oblast, but on 2 November without taking over the administration of the latter, he was returned to the post of Kyiv governor.