Zhavoronkov was born in the village of Sidorovskaya, Kostroma Governorate, and from 1910 worked in a textile factory in nearby Vichuga.

He was appointed commander of the 101st Heavy Bomber Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army (Chita).

In July 1937 he was named commander of the 5th heavy bomber air corps of the Trans-Baikal Military District.

[1] He was Commanding General of the Soviet Naval Air Force during World War II (1939–1945).

Under his leadership, aviators of the Baltic Fleet's Order of the Red Banner made a number of air strikes on military and industrial facilities in and around Berlin that began in August and September 1941.