Ukraine Frontline: Paramedic and Journalist Olena Sharhovska Dies

Olena Sharhovska, a dual-career professional who worked as a frontline paramedic and a media specialist, has died. The news was confirmed by Yana Zinkevych, commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, and by her former colleagues at the Novynarnia media outlet. Sharhovska, who also went by the name Jane, was 46 years old.

Her military service spanned nearly two years of active combat deployment. She enlisted in the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on September 10, 2022, which was also her birthday. She was stationed in the Bakhmut and Toretsk sectors as well as Kharkiv Oblast. Her duties included performing medical evacuations and training other service members in tactical medicine. She was discharged from active duty in August 2024 due to health reasons.

Before her military enlistment, Sharhovska built a substantial career in journalism, translation, and editing. She worked in television and print media, contributing to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria. In 2015, she transitioned to volunteer medical work, joining the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. She later became a member of the Hospitallers unit. Zinkevych stated that Sharhovska mastered tactical medicine and evacuated wounded soldiers from the most intense sections of the front line.

Sharhovska was also an advocate for gender equality within the military. She co-organized the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016. The event urged Ukrainian authorities to open military positions to women that had previously been restricted to men. As part of the Women's Veteran Movement, she continued to push for better equipment for female defenders during the war.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was living in Portugal. An injury prevented her immediate return to Ukraine, so she served as a volunteer from abroad before enlisting. Novynarnia described her as a person with a deep interest in the world and people. The outlet noted that she raised funds to buy vehicles for the front and supported fellow soldiers. Her personal motto was to do what she believed needed to be done, regardless of the outcome.

Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner, recalled that they lived in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar. He said they often met in one of their kitchens to discuss editorial matters. Lohvynenko described her as a major source of support and a driving force behind many projects. He noted that she was quite harsh toward the unknown.