He was greatly influenced by the nationalist ideology and rhetoric of such prominent Ukrainians as Ivan Bobersky, Myroslav Sichynsky [uk], and Dmytro Dontsov.

In 1909–1912 he immersed himself in social activities in his hometown and neighboring villages, giving lectures and organizing educational Prosvita and sport Sokil (Falcon) societies.

Due to the family's constant forced relocations, Yurko had to learn different languages for his schooling – German, French, Italian – but at home his mother insisted on their speaking their native Ukrainian.

[4] In the summer of 1914, Konovalets was mobilized into the Austro-Hungarian Army and during the First World War rose to the rank of a second lieutenant serving in the 19th Regiment of the Lviv Regional Defense.

In March 1918 his riflemen, together with the Zaporizhia Corps of the Ukrainian People's Republic and the reformed Haydamaky Kish [uk] of the Sloboda Ukraine, liberated Kyiv from the Soviets.

In the summer of 1918 he convinced Pavlo Skoropadskyi, Hetman (Hauptmann) of Ukraine, to create a Special Platoon of Sich Riflemen, which was established in Bila Tserkva.

[citation needed] The organization often resorted to terrorist attacks against Polish politicians as well as members of Ukrainian intelligentsia striving for cooperation with Poles (assassination of Sydir Tverdokhlib and Sofron Matviyas[6]).

He promoted its influence among Ukrainian emigres throughout Europe and America while establishing contacts with intelligence agencies of Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and other countries.

"[9]On 1 October 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy handed a ribbon of honorary to the 131st Separate Reconnaissance Battalion [uk] of the Ground Forces to be named in honor of Konovalets.

[10][11][12] In 2006, the Lviv city administration announced the future transference of the remains of Yevhen Konovalets, Stepan Bandera, Andriy Melnyk and other key leaders of OUN and UPA to a new area of Lychakiv Cemetery specifically dedicated to heroes of the Ukrainian liberation movement.

Celebration of 120th birthday" was organised by the Lithuanian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, People's Liberation Movement Research Centre (Ukraine) and Ukrainian organizations in Lithuania.