A few years later, the family moved to the settlement of the lumber mill named after Lenin (LDK No.

95 in Arkhangelsk Immediately after the start of the Great Patriotic War in August 1941, Lushev was drafted into the Red Army.

In June 1975 was made a commander of the troops of the Volga Military District, colonel-general (February 1976).

The military rank "army general" was conferred by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 2, 1981.

Since January 24, 1989 - Commander-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces of the Warsaw Treaty member states , he was the last military commander to occupy this post.

Since April 26, 1991 - military inspector-adviser of the Group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR.

In 1992 he retired, living in Moscow before his death on 23 March 1997; Lushev is buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery.