Ukrainian Medic Olena Sharhovska Dies at 46 After 25 Months of Military Service

Olena Sharhovska died at the age of 46 after serving 25 months in the Ukrainian military. The Hospitallers medical battalion and her former colleagues at Novynarnia announced her death. Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers, confirmed the news alongside the media outlet that employed Sharhovska for much of her career.

Sharhovska worked in media for nearly a decade before joining the front line in 2015. She held roles as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist across television and print platforms. She also contributed to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria. Her transition to military service began with volunteer work at the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. She subsequently joined the Hospitallers.

Zinkevych described Sharhovska's tactical medical work in intense terms. "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 served in the military on her 46th birthday, 10 September 2022. She was in Portugal when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. An injury delayed her return to Ukraine, so she supported the war effort as a volunteer from abroad before enlisting. She served with the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast.

During her deployment, Sharhovska conducted medical evacuations and trained other service members in tactical medicine. As a co-organiser of the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016, she advocated for equal military roles for women. She later joined the Women's Veteran Movement to push for better equipment for female defenders. Health reasons led to her discharge in August 2024.

Novynarnia described Sharhovska as a person of words and travel with a deep interest in people. The outlet noted that she maintained her love of language while helping fellow soldiers through fundraising and purchasing vehicles for the front. Her motto was: "Do what you believe needs to be done, and then come what may."

Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner and a fellow journalist, recalled living in neighbouring buildings in Vynohradar. He remembered discussing editorial matters in their kitchens and described Sharhovska as a driving force behind many processes. He noted that she remained harsh towards the unknown while providing enormous support to those around her.