Ignatov was born on 13 May 1956 in Dmitriyevskoye [ru], Tula Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.

He was drafted into the Soviet military in 1974, serving until 1976 in the 337th Parachute Regiment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division in the Azerbaijan SSR.

[1][2] After commissioning as an officer of the Soviet Airborne Forces, from 1980 to 1985 he served at the Ryazan School as a training platoon and company commander.

He then commanded a battalion in the 328th Parachute Regiment, 104th Guards Airborne Division in Azerbaijan before going to the Frunze Military Academy in 1987.

For this action, on 7 October he was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation by President Boris Yeltsin.