Born to a working-class family on 4 January 1906 in Tula, Baranov graduated from primary school and the Tula Technical School before becoming a factory worker. He joined the Red Army on 15 September 1923, entering the 17th Tula Infantry School, which became the Vladikavkaz Infantry School in 1924. As a cadet, he participated in the suppression of guerrillas in Chechnya. After graduating from the school in October 1925, Baranov became a platoon commander in the 64th Rifle Regiment of the 22nd Rifle Division of the North Caucasus Military District, stationed in Armavir. With his unit, he fought in the suppression of uprisings in the Khasavyurtovsky District of Dagestan and in Mikoyan-Shakhar, Karachay Oblast during 1926. Baranov became a member of the Communist Party in 1929.
