Veteran Paramedic Olena Sharhovska Has Died
The former journalist and military medic passed away after serving in Bakhmut and campaigning for women's equality in the armed forces.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
Olena Sharhovska, a veteran of the Hospitallers medical battalion and former media professional, has died. The announcement was made by Yana Zinkevych, commander of the unit, and by her former colleagues at Novynarnia.
Before entering military service, Sharhovska built a career in television and print media. She worked as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist. She also contributed to projects for the Ukraїner and Osvitoria organizations.
In 2015, she shifted her focus to frontline medical support. She began volunteering with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov before joining the Hospitallers. Zinkevych described Sharhovska’s role in rescuing soldiers from high-intensity combat zones. "Having mastered tactical medicine, Jane went to evacuate the wounded from the hottest sections of the front line, snatching the lives of our soldiers from the jaws of death on the way to stabilisation points," Zinkevych said.
Sharhovska also advocated for structural changes within the military. She co-organized the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016. The event urged authorities to open military positions to women that had previously been reserved for men.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was residing in Portugal. An injury delayed her return, but she continued to volunteer from abroad. She formally joined the military on her birthday, September 10, 2022. She served with the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Her deployments included Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. In addition to conducting medical evacuations, she trained service members in tactical medicine. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she lobbied for better equipment for female defenders. She was discharged for health reasons in August 2024.
Novynarnia described her as a person interested in travel and the world. The outlet noted that she continued to raise funds for soldiers and purchase vehicles for the front. Her personal motto was to do what she believed necessary and then face the consequences. Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner, recalled their long discussions on editorial matters while living in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar.
