In 1964, his blank verse was pronounced the vanguard, the ultimate promise of new Ukrainian poetry. In 1965, he was expelled from Kiev University for his anti-Soviet views and refusal to cooperate with KGB. For twenty years to follow, his poetry was banned. To support his family, he worked as a miner, builder, and farmer. In 1988, during perestroika, Holoborodko published several collections of poetry and was able to resume his university studies. His work has been translated into English, Portuguese, Polish and German. He became Laureate of Shevchenko Prize, the highest national literary award in Ukraine.