Bykov graduated from Commanders' Upgrading Training School of
Razvedupr of the
Red Army Staff in 1929. He received further training at the Red Army Military Academy of Chemical Defense, the Military-Industrial Department (September 1932 - February 1935), and the Red Army Stalin Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization. As he was fluent in German, Bykov served as an Officer of Soviet Military Intelligence (
GRU) from 1920-1941, working in Germany. In 1928 Bykov became the section chief of the 2nd Department of the
Razvedupr; later he was appointed Assistant Chief of the 2nd Department of the
Razvedupr. ==Soviet illegal resident==