Dual Career: Veteran Paramedic and Journalist Olena Sharhovska Passes Away
The former media professional and military medic, who advocated for gender equality in the armed forces, has died after years of service on the front lines.
By Lucas Murphy ·
Olena Sharhovska, a figure known for her dual contributions to Ukrainian media and military medicine, has died. The announcement was made by Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, as well as by her former colleagues at the news outlet Novynarnia.
Sharhovska established a significant presence in the public eye before her military service. Her professional background included roles as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist across both television and print media. She also contributed to various projects for Ukraïner and Osvitoria, building a reputation as a person of words with a deep interest in people and the world.
Her transition to life-saving work 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 her efforts to evacuate wounded soldiers from the most intense sections of the front line, noting that Sharhovska snatched lives from the jaws of death while transporting them to stabilisation points.
Beyond her medical duties, Sharhovska was a vocal advocate for the inclusion of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She co-organised the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016, a demonstration where participants urged authorities to open military positions previously reserved for men to female service members. This advocacy was part of a broader campaign to ensure women served on the same footing as men.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was residing in Portugal. An injury initially delayed her return, but she continued to support Ukraine as a volunteer from abroad. She officially joined the military on her birthday, 10 September 2022. Serving with the International Legion, she was deployed in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast, where she conducted medical evacuations and trained other service members in tactical medicine.
As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she continued to push for proper equipment for female defenders. She was discharged in August 2024 due to health reasons. Novynarnia recalled that she maintained her love for words and people despite the hardships, using fundraising efforts to help fellow soldiers and purchasing vehicles for the front. Her personal motto was to do what she believed needed to be done and then accept whatever came next. Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraïner, remembered their time living in neighbouring buildings in Vynohradar, describing her as a driving force and a source of support, though he noted she remained quite harsh towards the unknown.
Her death marks the end of a career that bridged the worlds of journalism and frontline medicine. Colleagues and commanders alike highlight her impact on both the media landscape and the military support structures for women in the armed forces. Her legacy includes the tangible support she provided to wounded soldiers and the structural changes she helped advocate for in the ranks.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
