Pyotr Afanasievich was born in 1772 into a Russian noble family of Papkovs in Yekaterinoslav Governorate. January 1, 1784 he enrolled into the Taganrog dragoon regiment as cavalry sergeant-major (вахмистр). In 1787, Papkov was moved to Astrakhan dragoon regiment in the rank of cadet, and in 1790 into Tiflis musketeer regiment in the rank of aide-de-camp. During Russo-Turkish War, 1787-1792, Papkov's regiment participated in an assault on Anapa under command of General-en-chef Ivan Gudovich. For Anapa Pyotr Papkov was promoted to the rank of sub-poruchik. Since April 28, 1796 Papkov was in Persia, and participated in the Persian Expedition of 1796, taking part in the siege of Derbent and other key operations of the campaign. For the Persian Expedition he was promoted to the rank of poruchik and a year later into the rank of captain. He gave his resignation in 1798, but enrolled again in April 1799 into the artillery battalion of Leib Guards. Paul I of Russia decorated Papkov with an Order of St. John of Jerusalem (орден Св. Иоанна Иерусалимского) on August 3, 1800, and was promoted to the rank of colonel on October 8, 1800. In 1803 he commanded the pontoon artillery companies, later pontoon artillery regiment. Since 1806, Papkov served as brigadier-commander of the 14th artillery brigade, with which he participated in the Battle of Gutstadt, Battle of Heilsberg and Battle of Friedland, was decorated with a Prussian order "For Merits", and on December 21, 1807 resigned from military service in the rank of mayor-general.