Kabalin was sent to the 1st Airborne Corps. He spent 1942 in training in the Teykovo area. On 8 December, the corps became the 1st Guards Airborne Division and Kabalin became a squad leader in the new unit. In February 1943, he fought in the Battle of Demyansk. On 13 March, Kabalin and 12 other paratroopers were dropped behind German lines with the task of blowing up a bridge over the Lovat River. The men reached the bridge after moving 10 kilometers in two days. The men began the attack at night after Kabalin reportedly killed the German sentry and then along with seven others engaged in a diversionary raid on the barracks, while the remaining four laid explosives under the bridge. The four soldiers at the bridge were involved in a firefight but were able to blow it up. Of Kabalin's group, only three survived and Kabalin was wounded. The 1st Guards Airborne Division soon began its offensive to the Lovat and Redya Rivers and Kabalin and his group were able to link up with the division. He was immediately sent to a field hospital and awarded the Order of the Red Star on 10 April.