Career
Purkayev was conscripted into the Imperial Russian Army in 1915, and reached the rank of praporshchik before joining the Red Army in 1918. During the Russian Civil War he served in the capacity of a company and battalion commander, and after completing officer training course "Vystrel" in 1923, he served as a regimental commander (24th Rifle Division, staff officer and commander of a division until 1936 when he commenced studies at the Frunze Military Academy. In 1942-1943 he served as commander of the Kalinin Front and from April 1943, the Far Eastern Front (from 1945 2nd Far Eastern Front).
From September 1945 to January 1947 Purkayev served as the commanding officer of the Far Eastern Military District during which time he was nominated to the Highest Soviet of Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (1946-1950).
From July 1952 to his death Purkayev served as the Head of Higher Education Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics.
