In 1938, Kirilenko became an active participant in party politics and was eventually selected to the position of Second Secretary of the Voroshilov District Party Committee in Zaporozhye Oblast.
Kirilenko blev 1939 aktiv deltagare i partipolitiken och valdes till posten som andre sekreterare i Vorosjilov distriktspartikommitté i Zaporozhye oblast.