Olena Sharhovska, Hospitallers Medic and Journalist, Dies

Olena "Jane" Sharhovska has died. Yana Zinkevych, commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, confirmed the news alongside former colleagues at the media outlet Novynarnia. Sharhovska served as a paramedic on the front line and later fought as part of the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Her military service began in 2015 when she volunteered with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. She later joined the Hospitallers. Zinkevych described her duties in tactical medicine, stating that Sharhovska evacuated wounded soldiers from the most dangerous sections of the front line to reach stabilisation points.

Before her medical career, Sharhovska worked in media as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist. Her experience covered both television and print formats. She also contributed to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria.

Sharhovska advocated for gender equality in military service. She co-organised the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016. During that event, participants urged authorities to open military positions to women that had previously been restricted to men. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she continued to push for better equipment for female defenders.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was in Portugal. An injury delayed her return to Ukraine, and she supported the country as a volunteer from abroad. She officially joined the military on September 10, 2022, which was her birthday.

Deployed with the International Legion, Sharhovska operated in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. In addition to medical evacuations, she trained other service members in tactical medicine. She was discharged in August 2024 for health reasons.

Novynarnia described her as a person with a deep interest in the world and in people. The outlet noted that she maintained her passion for words and continued to help fellow soldiers through fundraising and by purchasing vehicles for the front. Her motto, according to the outlet, was to do what one believes needs to be done and then accept the consequences. Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner, recalled living in neighbouring buildings in Vynohradar and discussing editorial matters in her kitchen. He described her as a driving force behind many processes and a harsh critic of the unknown.