His mother, Nataliya Georgievna, played an important role in Sobolev's upbringing, particularly after the death of Sobolev's father when Sobolev was 14 years old. He studied at the Khar'kov Workers' Technical School preparing to enter the high school which he did in 1922 around the time of his father's death.
Kanyang ina, Nataliya Georgievna, nilalaro ng isang mahalagang papel sa Sobolev ng pag-aalaga, lalo na matapos ang kamatayan ng Sobolev ng ama kapag Sobolev ay 14 years old. He-aral sa Khar'kov Workers' Technical School paghahanda upang ipasok ang mga mataas na paaralan na kung saan siya ay sa 1922 sa paligid ng panahon ng kanyang ama kamatayan.