Denisov was born on 7 March 1955, and entered the Soviet Armed Forces.

He graduated from the Moscow Higher Military Command School and rose through the ranks, serving as commander of a platoon, then company, battalion, regiment, and brigade.

[3] He was a graduate of the M. V. Frunze Military Academy and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, and commanded the 4th Guards "Kantemirovskaya" Tank Division between 1995 and 1998.

[1][3] In 1998 he became military commandant of Moscow, a post he held until his retirement in 2010 with the rank of Lieutenant general.

[1][3][4] In retirement Denisov was active in DOSAAF, a non-governmental society aimed at supporting the military.