Dual Legacy: Veteran Paramedic Olena Sharhovska Passes Away

The sudden loss of Olena Sharhovska, known professionally as Jane, highlights the intense physical toll taken by those who serve in combat medical roles. Serving as both a seasoned paramedic and a dedicated advocate for women in the military, she died after years of working under extreme pressure to stabilize wounded soldiers. The announcement was made by Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, alongside former colleagues from the media outlet Novynarnia.

Sharhovska’s path to the front lines was unconventional. Before dedicating herself to medical service, she established a significant career in the media industry. Her professional background included work as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist across both television and print formats. She also contributed to projects for the platforms Ukraїner and Osvitoria, demonstrating a versatile skill set that would later aid her in military communications.

Her transition to frontline care began in 2015 when she volunteered with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. She subsequently joined the Hospitallers, where she mastered tactical medicine. Zinkevych described Sharhovska’s operations in stark terms, noting that she went to the most dangerous sections of the front line to evacuate the wounded. The commander emphasized that Sharhovska consistently snatched lives from the jaws of death while transporting injured personnel to stabilization points.

Beyond her medical duties, Sharhovska was a vocal advocate for gender equality in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a co-organizer of the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016, she helped urge authorities to open military positions to women that had previously been reserved exclusively for men. This activism was part of a broader effort to ensure that female defenders received the same recognition and opportunities as their male counterparts.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was living in Portugal. Although a physical injury delayed her return to Ukraine, she remained active as a volunteer from abroad. She officially joined the military on September 10, 2022, which coincided with her birthday. She served with the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, deploying to key conflict zones including Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. Her responsibilities included medical evacuations and training other service members in tactical medicine.

As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she continued to push for better equipment for female defenders. She was eventually discharged in August 2024 due to health reasons. Novynarnia remembered her as a person of words and travel with a deep interest in the world and people. Despite the hardships she faced, she maintained a love for helping fellow soldiers through fundraising and purchasing vehicles for the front. Her personal motto, as noted by the outlet, was to do what one believes needs to be done, and then come what may.

Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner and a fellow serviceman, also paid tribute to her. Recalling their time living in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar, he described their frequent kitchen discussions about editorial matters. He characterized her as an enormous source of support and a driving force behind many processes, while noting that she remained quite harsh towards the unknown.