Ukrainian medic Olena Sharhovska saved lives on the front line before her death
The veteran of the Hospitallers battalion and former journalist enlisted on her 46th birthday and was later discharged for health reasons.
By Rebecca Kaminski ·
Olena "Jane" Sharhovska died at the age of 46, ending a 25-month period of active military service in Ukraine. The news was confirmed by Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, and by former colleagues at the media outlet Novynarnia.
Sharhovska joined the armed forces on September 10, 2022, which was her birthday. She was living in Portugal at the time of Russia's full-scale invasion and remained abroad for several months due to an injury. Before enlisting, she had built a career in journalism, translation, and editing, working for television and print media. She also contributed to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria.
Her path to the front line began in 2015 when she volunteered with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. She later joined the Hospitallers, where she mastered tactical medicine. Zinkevych noted that Sharhovska worked to evacuate wounded soldiers from the most intense combat zones, moving them to stabilization points.
Deployed with the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sharhovska served in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. In addition to performing medical evacuations, she trained other service members in tactical medicine. As part of the Women's Veteran Movement, she advocated for female defenders to receive adequate equipment. She was discharged from service in August 2024 for health reasons.
Colleagues remembered Sharhovska for her dual commitment to words and action. Novynarnia described her as a person with a deep interest in the world and in people, noting that she continued to support fellow soldiers through fundraising and by purchasing vehicles for the front. Her stated motto was to do what she believed needed to be done, regardless of the outcome.
Bohdan Lohvynenko, a journalist and founder of Ukraїner, recalled living in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar. He described her as a driving force behind many processes and a source of support, while noting she could be harsh toward the unknown. Her death follows her discharge from the military last year.
The Hospitallers and Novynarnia have shared the news of her passing with the public. Sharhovska's former colleagues plan to continue honoring her contributions to both the media and the military. Her service record spans from her initial volunteering efforts in 2015 to her formal discharge in 2024.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
