Ukrainian War Medic: Olena Sharhovska Dies at 46

Olena Sharhovska, a veteran of the Hospitallers medical battalion and a former media professional, has died. The news was confirmed by Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers, and by colleagues at the news outlet Novynarnia.

Sharhovska transitioned from a career in journalism and translation to military medicine in 2015. Before enlisting, she worked as a journalist, editor, and social media specialist for television and print media. She also contributed to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria. Her move into medicine began with volunteer work at the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov, followed by her service with the Hospitallers.

Zinkevych described Sharhovska’s role in evacuating wounded soldiers from active 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 was also a vocal advocate for women in the military. She co-organized the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016, an event that urged authorities to open male-only military positions to women. During the full-scale Russian invasion, she was based in Portugal and served as a volunteer abroad due to an injury. She officially joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine on her birthday, September 10, 2022.

She served with the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, deploying to 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 campaigned for proper equipment for female defenders. Health reasons led to her discharge in August 2024.

Novynarnia remembered Sharhovska as a person of words and travel who maintained a deep interest in people. The outlet noted that she continued to support fellow soldiers through fundraising and by purchasing vehicles for the front. Her personal motto was: "Do what you believe needs to be done, and then come what may."

Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner and a fellow serviceman, recalled their shared time in Vynohradar. Lohvynenko described her as an enormous source of support and a driving force behind many processes, while noting she remained quite harsh towards the unknown.