With the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Starikov received command of the 19th Rifle Corps, part of the 23rd Army on the Northern Front. His unit unsuccessfully defended the Karelian region after Finland invaded to reconquer the territory, lost after the Winter War. After a decisive loss at the Battle of Porlampi in early September Starikov and the rest of the 23rd Army spent the rest of the month defending the northwestern approaches to Leningrad. In December Starikov was named deputy commander of the 8th Army, part of the Volkhov Front, becoming commander in April 1942.