Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko

Born in Zhytomyr in 1853, Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko was a Russian writer, journalist, and humanitarian of Ukrainian origin. His early involvement in student political movements led to arrests and exile, including years in Siberia—experiences that became an important source for his fiction.

Korolenko wrote short stories, journalism, and literary criticism, and became known for works including The Blind Musician, Makar’s Dream, In Bad Company, and his Siberian tales. He strongly criticized the tsarist regime and later opposed the abuses of the Bolsheviks. He spent his final years in Poltava, where he continued his humanitarian work until his death in 1921.