Koroteyev was born on 25 February 1901 in the village of Shcheglovka (now in Bogodukhov) in Kharkov Governorate, then part of the Russian Empire, to a working-class family.

[2] In February 1918, Koroteyev joined a Red Guard detachment formed from Shcheglovka mine workers during the Russian Civil War.

In April, the battalion became part of Kliment Voroshilov's 2nd Ukrainian Soviet Army, participating in the defense of Lugansk and in battles against German troops on the Southern Front.

[2] After the Red Army's retreat from Tsaritsyn, Koroteyev was sent to study at the Saratov Infantry and Machine Gun Courses in September 1919.

As part of a cadet detachment, he helped suppress the Sapozhkov Uprising in the Ural steppes before graduating in July 1920.

[1] Koroteyev commanded the left-flank group of the 15th Army of the North-Western Front and led the fighting on the mastery of the islands, Petäjäsaari and Maksimansaari in Lake Ladoga.

In August, he took command of the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, part of the Transcaucasian Front's 9th Army, leading it in the defense of positions in the direction of Ordzhonikidze.

[1] Under his command, the fall of 1942, the army waged a fierce and bloody battles on the defensive line Malgobek - Mozdok - Elkhotovo, and did not allow the enemy to Grozny and Baku oil.

[1] On 13 May 1943, Koroteyev was appointed commander of the 37th Army of the North Caucasian Front,[1] which under his leadership was trying to break the "Blue Line" Hitler's defense on the Taman peninsula.

For his "skilled leadership" of the army in the crossing of the Oder during the Vistula–Oder Offensive, Koroteyev was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on 6 April 1945.

[1] Passing fought over 250 kilometers on the left-bank Ukraine, in November 1943, the 52nd Army crossed the Dnieper near the city of Cherkassy, a foothold.

By September 4, 1944, Nazi group was dissolved, part of the army captured 65,000 soldiers and officers, about 1,000 guns, many other military equipments.

In September 1944, the 52nd Army was put in reserve rates, and in December - transferred to the 1st Ukrainian Front, and focused on the Sandomierz bridgehead.

General sent Koroteyev main striking force, with battles overcame the enemy defenses on the River Warta, in the Polish city of Czestochowa, which was released on 17 January 1945.

Postwar, Koroteyev remained in command of the 52nd Army, graduating from Higher Academic Courses at the General Staff Academy in 1947.