On 12 September 2007, Vysotsky was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, succeeding Vladimir Masorin who retired at age 60 the same day.

He was posted to the Russian Pacific Fleet where he served aboard patrol ships, frigates and the Sverdlov-class cruiser Admiral Senyavin.

In 1990 Vysotsky was a Gold Medal graduate of the N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy and posted as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Minsk.

Subsequently, he commanded a squadron of Pacific Fleet missile ships.

In 2005 he was appointed Commander of the Northern Fleet and in 2007 Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.