 Chebotaryova had earlier volunteered as a nurse during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and had taken formal nursing courses at the time.Despite the fact that she did not move in the highest society circles, she was asked to join a group of women who nursed soldiers along with the Tsarina and her daughters at a Palace Hospital at Tsarskoye Selo.Chebotaryova grew fond of the grand duchesses and had personal sympathy for the Tsarina, but also blamed Alexandra and her reliance on Grigori Rasputin for the political upheaval that followed.