Белорусский военный округ
On 3 November 1972, following the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, he was promoted to the rank of the Army General. His next command was Belorussian Military District from December 1980 to February 1985, when he was promoted to the position of the Commander in Chief of the Soviet Ground Forces. In 1989 he became the member of the inspectorate of the Ministry of the Defense of the USSR.