Born in Mogilev. Since 1920 had served in the Red Army, participant of the Civil War. In 1927 he graduated from the United Belarusian Military School named after the CEC of the BSSR. During the war he headed various military units. As a chief of staff of the 6th Guards Army, he took part in the liberation of Polotsk in July 1944. In the postwar period, he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1956 — commander of the Far Eastern Military District, then commander of the Belorussian Military District. In the 1960s — deputy minister of defense of the USSR for combat training. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR at the 5th — 7th convocations.
Awarded two Orders of Lenin, five Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Kutuzov, 1st and 2nd degrees, the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, medals.
The title of the Honorary Citizen of Polotsk was conferred in 1967.
Grand opening of the Mound of Immortality. V. A. Pen’kovskiy is the third from the right. 1966
Monument to V.A. Pen’kovskiy at Minsk Eastern Cemetery
