Chistyakov joined the Red Army during the Russian Civil War and rose from ordinary soldier to junior commander.

After the end of the war in Europe, he was transferred to the Far East again to serve as the commander of the 25th Army, which occupied North Korea during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945.

Chistyakov was born to a working-class family on 27 September 1900 in the village of Otrubnevo, Slavkovskoy volost, Kashinsky Uyezd, Tver Governorate.

From November, the regiment fought in the suppression of the uprising of Najmuddin Gotsinsky in Dagestan, participating in heavy fighting near the aul of Aymaki and on the Botlikh direction.

[2] Chistyakov was assigned to accompany the staff of the Caucasian Front during the relocation of the latter from Rostov-on-Don to Tiflis in May 1921, then transferred to become a platoon commander with the 1st Dagestan Brigade, stationed in Temir-Khan-Shura, in late June.

[2] Chistyakov was promoted to major in 1935,[3] before being sent to the Far East in August 1936 to serve as head of the 1st staff department of the 92nd Rifle Division of the Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army.

[2] After Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, began in late June, Chistyakov remained in the Far East with the corps, covering the Soviet-Manchurian border in Primorye.

[3] Chistyakov led both units during the Battle of Moscow and in April 1942 took command of the 2nd Guards Rifle Corps, part of the Northwestern and then Kalinin Fronts.

For the "skillful command" of his army and showing "personal courage and heroism" in these operations, he was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on 22 July 1944.

In the recapture of the Baltic states, Chistyakov led the army in the Šiauliai, Riga, and Memel Offensives during the rest of 1944, as well as the elimination of the Courland Pocket in early 1945.

On 12 August, in cooperation with naval infantry from the Pacific Fleet, the army captured Yuki and Rashin on the east coast of Korea.