By August 14, 1942, Kulakov had been promoted to the rank of colonel, and on that date was appointed to the command of the 339th Rifle Division, a position he would hold until his death.

At 0100 hours on November 15 the division resumed its assault, but again failed to achieve success, losing six men killed and 20 wounded in the process.

[4] At 1325 hours on November 16 the German air force began a series of heavy strikes against the division's positions, with over 100 sorties.

Colonel Kulakov had established his observation post in the midst of his division's forward defense line in the northern portion of the Voikov factory.

Unaware of his fate, the People's Commissariat of Defense issued a decree the following day promoting Kulakov to the rank of Major General.

On May 16, 1944, Kulakov was posthumously made a Hero of the Soviet Union for his outstanding performance in the Kerch–Eltigen Operation, along with a captain and a sergeant-major of his division who were also killed during the action.