He had received a number of awards during his career, and on his death in 2020, politicians at the local and national levels paid tribute to his service.

[1] Graduating from the Frunze Military Academy in 1980, Kuznetsov was posted to the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment as its deputy commander, and deployed with the unit to Afghanistan as part of the Soviet forces committed to the Soviet–Afghan War.

[1] For his service during the war, then Guards Lieutenant-Colonel Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, with the accompanying Gold Star and the Order of Lenin, on 5 July 1982.

He was respected for his strength of character, honesty and decency [and] was an active participant in the public life of the city and region.

"[3] Vasily Orlov, Governor of Amur Oblast, called him "the last Hero of the Soviet Union in the Far East" and wrote that "a talented, honest and generous person has left us.

"[7] Alexander Kozlov, the Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, called him "honest, open, uncompromising, decent, energetic.

[9] On 5 July 2022, a statue of Kuznetsov was unveiled on the square opposite the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School.

The design of the monument was developed with the input of his family, and depicts Kuznetsov, in military uniform and with his cap in his hand, walking to work at the school.