In 1962, he graduated from Physicotechnical Faculty of Dnipro University and got the mechanical engineer’s diploma (“flying crafts”).

From 1962 to 1977, Horbulin worked at Yuzhnoye Design Office (Dnipro) and took part in development of strategic rocket systems and space vehicles of “Kosmos” series.

In 1977–1990, he worked at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, and in 1980 he headed the sector of the rocket and aircraft technologies.

In November 2000, Horbulin became the member of Presidium of the Committee of State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology.

In 2000-2001, Horbulin headed the Interagency Commission for Political Conflict Resolution in Transdniestria region of the Republic of Moldova.

[2] On 4 December 2009, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum, along with other Ukrainian statesmen, diplomats and public activists he initiated the International Security Forum to be held 15–16 April 2010 in Lviv, Ukraine.

In June 2015 Horbulin was appointed by President Poroshenko a Ukrainian special representative in one of the subgroups of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine.