Born in Horodnia Raion, Ukrainian SSR, he studied law at Irkutsk State University, graduating in 1967.

[1] In 1989, he gained notability for granting his seat in the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union to Boris Yeltsin.

[2][3] Kazannik later served as Deputy Governor of Omsk Oblast from 1995 to 2003.

Additionally, he taught law at Omsk State University.

[4] Kazannik died following a long illness on 2 June 2019 in Omsk, at the age of 77.