Sent to study at the Cavalry Officers Improvement Course (KUKS) in Novocherkassk in November of that year, Obukhov became commander and commissar of the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the 2nd Cavalry Division in the Ukrainian Military District after graduation in July 1929. He studied at the Frunze Military Academy from April 1931, graduating in April 1934, after which he was placed at the disposal of the Red Army Intelligence Directorate. Promoted to colonel on 16 December 1935, Obukhov served in China as a military advisor to the commander of the Xinjiang Military Region of the National Revolutionary Army between 1935 and 1937. After returning to the Soviet Union, Obukhov served with the Red Army Cavalry Inspectorate from September 1937 as an assistant and later senior assistant inspector. From May 1939 he was a staff officer in the operational department of the 1st Army Group, and from July inspector of the cavalry of the Far East front group. In the latter position he participated in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. Promoted to "kombrig" on 4 November 1939, Obukhov became chief of the Borisov Cavalry School in December 1939, which was later converted into a tank school. When the Red Army reintroduced general's ranks, he was made a major general on 4 June 1940. Obukhov was appointed commander of the 26th Tank Division of the 20th Mechanized Corps of the Western Special Military District on 11 March 1941.