His long-term connection with the Pyatnitsky Choir (since 1932) gave him many chances composing choral music.
Even sometime later, no one can tell whether one of his famous song was a composition or an arrangement of a folk piece.
Vladimir Zakharov was awarded the title of the People's Artist of the USSR in 1944, and received three Stalin Prizes in 1942, 1946 and 1952.
In 1948 he was appointed one of the Principal Secretaries of Union of Soviet Composers.
Those who were denounced by him include Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, Aram Khachaturian, Nikolai Myaskovsky, and Vano Muradeli.