Captain Kutinchev fought in the Battle of Slivnitsa, Dragoman, Tsarevbrod and Pirot.

After the war he served as commander of various infantry regiments and was promoted to Major General in 1904.

Four years later Kutinchev was appointed commander of the First Army Region which comprised the western parts of Bulgaria.

This is the first time in the history of the Bulgarian Kingdom when such high ranks were awarded to officers of the Active Army.

With the outbreak of the First Balkan War General Kutinchev was made commander of the First Army which took part in the important battles of Kirk Kilisse, Lule Burgas and Çatalca.