Kuban Oblast
Simoniak was born to Ukrainian parents on 17 February 1901 in the stanitsa of Temizhbekskaya, Caucasus Detachment of, Kuban Oblast. He was conscripted into the Red Army on 1 May 1918 and sent to the 154th Derbent Revolutionary Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army, which became the 292nd Derbent Rifle Regiment of the 33rd Kuban Rifle Division in Astrakhan in February 1919. With the regiment, Simoniak fought on the Kuban steppe and the Astrakhan steppe against the Armed Forces of South Russia. In early 1920 he was sent to study at the 6th Ryazan Cavalry Courses, and from there in June as part of a cadet squadron was transferred to the 18th Samara Preparatory Cavalry Courses. After graduating from the latter, Simoniak was sent to study at the 10th Novocherkassk Command Courses. As part of a cadet detachment, he participated in the suppression of anti-Soviet forces.