The Navy was one of the only branches of the Soviet military to be at full readiness when the German invasion of the Soviet Union began. It had been placed at readiness No. 2 on 19 June, and at midnight on 21 June commander in chief of the navy Admiral Kuznetsov moved it to readiness No. 1. As Baltic Fleet chief of staff, Panteleyev was heavily involved in bringing the fleet to war readiness. In late August, during the invasion, he participated in the Soviet evacuation of Tallinn, commanding a covering detachment of Soviet warships, and on 1 September took charge of a flotilla of transports, gunboats and other vessels to evacuate part of the 50th Rifle Corps from Koivisto. He described the scene in Tallinn in his diary: Beat off strong attack on city during the night. Enemy has changed tactics, infiltrating in small groups ... All airfields captured by the enemy. Our planes flew off to the east. Fleet and city under bombing and shelling. Lovely Pirita burning ... Other suburbs also burning. Big fires in the city. Barricades being built at the approaches to the harbour. Smoke everywhere ... Fire of ships and shore batteries has not slackened. Our command post at Minna Harbour constantly under fire.