Zaitsev took part in the battles of Kursk and Berlin, as well as major Soviet operations such as Lvov-Sandomierz, Vistula-Oder, and the drive on Prague.

Following the war, Zaitsev served in a variety of staff assignments that built upon his expertise with armored forces and warfare.

Zaitsev's priorities for GSFG included training that stressed the use of individual initiative by junior officers.

[3] During his tour of command of GSFG, a crisis with the United States broke out because of the shooting of Arthur D. Nicholson, a U.S. officer assigned to the U.S. Military Liaison Mission in East Germany.

From 6 July 1985 until 5 January 1989, Zaitsev commanded the Southern Strategic Direction (three southern military districts of the Soviet Union, including the Turkestan Military District, see Formations of the Soviet Army) and thus supervised the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan (ru:Ограниченный контингент советских войск в Афганистане),[6] mostly made up of troops of the 40th Army and the Air Force's 34th Composite Aviation Corps, plus Border and KGB Troops.