Born to an émigré Georgian noble family, Yashvil graduated from a cadet corps as an artillery officer in 1786 and took part in the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792), Polish campaign of 1794, and the wars against Napoleonic France (1805, 1806–07). He was promoted to major general in 1808. During Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, he first commanded the 4th artillery brigade and for his conduct at the rearguard actions received the rank of lieutenant-general in July 1812. Following the French retreat from Russia, Yashvil was appointed commander of the Russian artillery, a position he maintained throughout the 1813-14 campaigns. After the war, he served as a commander of artillery within the 1st army from 1819 until his retirement, as a general of artillery, in 1832. Prior to that, he took pa