Inna Korolenko (Korolyok) – short story “Korolyok’s Evacuation”

Inna Korolenko (Korolyok)

Combat medic, military psychologist, sergeant.

Author of the short story “Korolyok’s Evacuation” in the collection “Voices of Defenders, Vol. 1”, where she recounts her first combat missions, the struggle for the right to serve on the front line, the death of fellow driver comrades, and her own injury.

Military path

Inna Korolenko is 26 years old. She was born in Odesa and currently lives in Lviv and Kyiv.

She voluntarily joined the Territorial Defense in 2022. She started as a rifleman and later served as a clerk, combat medic, sanitary instructor, and military psychologist.

She carried out combat missions in the Bakhmut, Soledar, and Pokrovsk directions, as well as in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions. She organized the evacuation of the wounded and deceased from the battlefield.

During the battles near Siversk, she sustained a gunshot and shrapnel wound to the neck, dislocations, and a concussion. She was discharged from military service in 2025.

For her courage and dedication, she was awarded the Order of Mercy, the Defender of the Fatherland medal, the Minister of Defense’s distinction “For Injury,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine badge “For Saving Lives,” and other honors.

During the bombing, everyone ran to the basement with their most valuable belongings. I only took the kittens with their mother.

Civilian life

In peaceful times, Inna worked as a journalist, television producer, communications specialist, and owner of an SMM studio. She also practiced music therapy and held classes for children.

Today, she participates in the Invictus Games, competing in alpine skiing and swimming, and practices archery.

“Sport awakened emotions I hadn’t felt for a long time. After combat missions, I felt neither joy, anger, nor sadness — it was as if I hadn’t lived, only existed. Sport helped me realize that not everything is lost — I can still feel something,” she said in an interview with the publication ShOTam.

At the same time, Inna is studying psychology, particularly psychological support for military trauma.

Inna decided to write in memory of her fallen comrades to preserve their stories and experiences.

“When I feel down, I pick up musical instruments. I have been performing on stage since I was four years old. I used to work as a music therapist, and when the invasion began, I took my guitar with me — I would come from the frontlines and sing,” she said in an interview with ShOTam.