Kurkotkin was born on 13 February 1917 to a peasant family in the village of Zaprudnaya, Sofinskoy volost, Bronnitsky uyezd, Moscow Governorate.

[2] After the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, Kurkotkin was appointed political instructor of a tank company of the 148th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 114th Rifle Division in the Transbaikal District in August.

In September his unit wes sent west to serve with the 7th Separate Army on the Svir River, fighting against Finnish troops in the Continuation War.

After graduating from the Military Academy for Armored and Mechanized Forces in 1951, Kurkotkin, promoted to colonel on 20 April 1950,[1] became deputy commander of the 10th Guards Tank Division in May of that year.

After graduating from the latter in October 1958, Kurkotkin, promoted to major general of tank forces on 3 May 1955,[1] was appointed commander of the 6th Army Corps of the North Caucasus Military District.

[1] After graduating from Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1970, he became commander-in-chief of the GSFG in September 1971, and Chief of the Rear Services of the Soviet Armed Forces in July 1972.

In recognition of his "contributions to the training and combat readiness of forces" and "personal courage and bravery" during World War II, Kurkotkin was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on 18 February 1981.

Promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet union on 25 March 1983,[1] he became a general-inspector of the Group of Inspectors General, a retirement position for senior officers, on 3 May 1988.