A Russian, Nikolai Stepanovich Nikitchenko was born on 17 December 1901 in Starodub, Chernigov Governorate. During the Russian Civil War, Nikitchenko joined the Red Army in the settlement of Unecha on 27 October 1918 and was sent as a Red Army man to the commandant's platoon of the 1st Ukrainian Division. With the division, he fought on the Southern Front against the Volunteer Army. In February 1919 he was wounded and hospitalized until June. After recovering in June he was sent to the convalescent detachment of the 19th Reserve Rifle Regiment at Bryansk, where he served as an assistant platoon commander in the regimental reconnaissance detachment from February 1920. In December 1920 he transferred to the 22nd Rifle Regiment at Liski as assistant platoon commander in the reconnaissance detachment. With the 22nd, he fought in the suppression of the Kolesnikov revolt near Ostrogozhsk. In April 1921 he was sent to study at the 27th Oryol Infantry and Machine Gun Command Course. As a cadet, he fought in the suppression of the Tambov Rebellion between May and November of that year.