Valeriia “Lera” Burlakova is a journalist and former soldier from Ukraine. She served in combat from 2014-2017 after joining the Ukrainian army following the Russia invasion of Crimea. Her war diary "Life P.S." received the UN Women in Arts award in 2021. She has worked as a journalist in Ukraine since 2008, beginning during her time at Taras Schevchenko University in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Journalism. She has worked for Ukrayinskiy Tyzhden (The Ukrainian Week magazine) and Censor.net.ua.