Sino-Soviet border conflict
Prokhanov's short story "The Wedding" (1967) garnered some critical praise and is considered his breakthrough. Two years later, he was working for the Soviet newspapers, "Pravda" and "Literaturnaya Gazeta". As a foreign correspondent Prokhanov visited Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Angola, and Ethiopia, these assignments providing him invaluable material for future literary work. Prokhanov was the first to report on the March 1969 events on Damansky Island during the Sino-Soviet border conflict.