He reached the rank of rear admiral and received the title of Hero of the Russian Federation during his career.

[2] Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by relatives in Baku in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, attending the Nakhimov Naval School in Leningrad and graduating with a silver medal in 1965.

He went on to study at the Frunze Higher Naval School, graduating in 1970 and joining the Northern Fleet for service on submarines.

He served aboard the K-418 between July 1970 and November 1975, and completed the Higher Special Officer Classes of the Navy [ru] in 1976.

[2] Berzin retired from active service in November 2001 and settled in Saint Petersburg, working at the Central Research Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, and serving as president of the Saint Petersburg Club of Submariners and Naval Veterans [ru].