Born on 21 January 1924 in the village of Porzovo, Kameshkir District, Penza Region, to a family of peasants Zharikov Yakov Egorovich and Darya Alexandrovna (born 1892). He was the fourth child in a family with many children. In 1938, he finished a seven-year school in his native village. The wish of his father and mother was to continue his studies at the Kuznetsk Feldshers' and Obstetrics' School. Later it will be called the Kuznetsk Medical School. Vladimir was one year short. He was only admitted there from the age of 15. At his father's request, birth documents were forged at the Village Council. One year was added to his age. The student heard about the attack by the Nazi Germany in the hostel.