Kozlov was born in the village of Loshchinino (Лощинино), Kasimovsky Uyezd of Ryazan Governorate.

In July 1959, he visited the secretive Bohemian Grove encampment in northern California.

He was considered Khrushchev's likely successor[3][4] but even before his mentor's removal from office, Kozlov's position had been undermined by the effects of his alcoholism.

[5] He was relieved of his duties on 16 November 1964, following the ousting of his mentor, Nikita Khrushchev.

He was honored with a state funeral and his ashes were buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis.