Северная группа войск
Promoted to lieutenant-general in 1965, Tankayev was a deputy commander of the Odessa Military District in the late 1960s. He was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR ahead of its seventh convocation in 1966, selected as to succeed Colonel-General Ivan Shkadov as commander of the Northern Group of Forces in December 1968, and elevated to colonel-general in 1969. He continued to serve with the Northern Group of Forces until 1973.