While he was working at the Semyannikov factory, Babushkin was shown illegal narodnik literature, and formed an illicit study circle, with two other young workers named V.A.Shelzunov and P.A.Morozov.

He wrote a pamphlet entitled What is a Socialist and Political Criminal?, and organized revolutionary activities targeting the workers of the Semiannikov and Aleksandrov factories.

Working in the Bryansk factory, he organised another workers circle, whose members included the future Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee, Grigory Petrovsky.

Constantly on the move to avoid arrest, he organised the distribution of Iskra in Moscow, Smolensk, Polotsk, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, and other cities.

Arrested again in December 1901, Babushkin he escaped from the Yekaterinoslav prison on 29 July 1902, aided by schoolboys who dyed his hair - which almost proved to be a disaster when the dye turned crimson.

In January 1906, he and five others were attempting to smuggle weapons when a death squad caught up with them and shot them all[5] at the Mysovaya station of the Trans-Siberian Railway.