Vasily Mikhailovich Dolgorukov-Krymsky was born on July 1, 1722. He was the son of Senator Mikhail Vladimirovich Dolgorukov and Princess Yevdokiya Yuryevna Odoevskaya. During the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna, his family fell into disgrace, which affected him as well. At the age of thirteen, he was enlisted as a soldier in the army, which under the command of Field Marshal Minikh was heading against Crimea. He was assigned to the dragoons and promoted to corporal, distinguishing himself during the capture of the Perekop fortress. Minikh promised that the first soldier to ascend the fortifications would become an officer. Dolgorukov was the first to ascend the fortifications and received the rank of lieutenant.

Anna Ioannovna forbade granting ranks to the Dolgorukovs, but Minikh, reporting on the capture of Perekop, admitted that he had granted a rank to the young Dolgorukov. The empress replied, 'I cannot take the sword from a suckling.' Thus, he became the only one in his family to receive an officer's rank during Anna Ioannovna's reign.

Under Elizabeth Petrovna, Dolgorukov quickly advanced in service. In 1741, he became a captain, in 1742 a second major, in 1743 a premier major, and in 1745 was appointed general-adjutant to his uncle, and in 1747 he became a colonel and commander of the Tobolsk Infantry Regiment. According to the memoirs of Prince Shakhovsky, Dolgorukov held a prominent position among commanders.

He participated in the Seven Years' War, distinguishing himself in battles near Küstrin and Zorndorf in 1758. For his bravery, he was promoted to major-general and awarded the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky. He was wounded in the battle near Zorndorf, but after treatment returned to the front and participated in the Battle of Kunersdorf. In 1761, during the storming of Kolberg, he was wounded again. Catherine II promoted him to general-in-chief and awarded him the Order of Andrew the First-Called.

In the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774, Dolgorukov guarded the borders with Crimea and in 1770 replaced P. Panin as commander of the 2nd army. He defeated the army of Khan Selim III Girey and occupied Crimea, for which he received the Order of George of the 1st class and a snuffbox with a portrait of Catherine II. His son Vasily Vasilyevich was promoted to colonel. Dolgorukov forced Khan Selim to flee to Istanbul and placed Khan Sahib II Girey on the throne, who signed the Karasubazar Treaty with Russia, declaring Crimea's independence from the Ottoman Empire.

On July 18, 1771, Catherine II awarded Dolgorukov the Order of St. George of the 1st class. In 1775, he received a sword with diamonds and the title of Krymsky. Offended that he did not become a field marshal, he retired and settled in a village. In 1780, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Moscow. He established theatrical censorship and contributed to urban infrastructure by cleaning the Neglinnaya River and building a bridge over the Yauza.

Dolgorukov dealt with administrative issues and the selection of officials for the Moscow province. He lived in a country residence in the village of Vasilyevskoe, where he hosted guests. He died on January 30, 1782, and was buried in the church of the estate of Volynshchina. Y. Nelydinsky-Meletsky composed an epitaph in his honor.

In 1784, his city house was acquired by the Noble Assembly and rebuilt by M. F. Kazakov. During the Soviet era, the building became the House of Unions.