He served as telephone operator-lineman in 91st Guards Separate Order of Red Star Signal battalion from January 14, 1945. During offensive operations Comrade Zaitsev provided advancing units with uninterrupted communications. Vasily Iosifovich as part of advancing units, provided uninterrupted communications when crossing the Pilitsa River. Zaitsev Vasily Iosifovich was awarded Medal for Military Merit. Comrade Zaitsev, provided uninterrupted communication to advancing 185th Guards Regiment, moved all the time with operational group at breakthrough of heavily fortified enemy defenses and successful advance of Soviet units in Berlin