In retirement he was deputy chairman of the Soviet, and after 1991, the Russian Committees of war veterans, and wrote and contributed to several books.

He then became head of the political department of the bomber division, and then deputy commander of the Group of Forces in the Arctic.

[1] After retiring, Tsymbal was deputy chairman of the Soviet, and after 1991, the Russian Committees of war veterans, until 1995.

[2] Tsymbal also pursued academic interests, being a candidate of historical sciences and an associate professor.

[1] The latter work, edited by Tsymbal, was published in English as First Man In Space: The Life and Achievement of Yuri Gagarin: A Collection.

[3] Krasnaya Zvezda, the official newspaper of the Russian Ministry of Defence published his obituary, noting that "The blessed memory of Nikolai Andreyevich Tsymbal, a faithful son of the Fatherland, will be preserved in the hearts of colleagues, veterans and soldiers of the Russian air forces.