Khovansky took part in the Battle of Klushino, where Shuisky suffered a severe defeat from Hetman Żółkiewski. When Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin organized a volunteer army to save Moscow from the Polish invaders, Khovansky took part in this army’s campaign against the enemy. Together with Minin, he commanded this army during its march from Yaroslavl to Rostov, while Pozharsky was in Suzdal.