Media Veteran and Paramedic Olena Sharhovska: A Legacy of Service

For the working families and community members who followed the local media scene, the loss of Olena Sharhovska represents a significant shift in the landscape of public advocacy and wartime support. Known by her service nickname Jane, Sharhovska was a familiar figure who moved between the worlds of print journalism and frontline medicine. Her passing marks the end of a career that spanned decades of editorial work and years of active duty, leaving a gap in the network of individuals who connected the public with the realities of the conflict.

Sharhovska’s background was rooted in the media industry long before she donned a medical uniform. She worked as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist. Her career path included roles in both television and print media. She also contributed to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria, organizations known for their digital outreach. This professional history established her as a person deeply engaged with storytelling and communication, skills that would later inform her approach to military service and advocacy.

The transition to medical service began in 2015 when she started volunteering on the front line. She initially joined the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. Following this, she became a member of the Hospitallers medical battalion. Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers, shared the news of her death and provided a vivid account of her work. Zinkevych noted that Sharhovska mastered tactical medicine and went to evacuate the wounded from the hottest sections of the front line. She described how Sharhovska snatched the lives of soldiers from the jaws of death on the way to stabilisation points.

Beyond her direct medical duties, Sharhovska was a vocal advocate for gender equality within the armed forces. She and her fellow servicewomen campaigned for women to serve on the same footing as men. In 2016, she was a co-organiser of the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv. This event urged authorities to open military positions to women that had previously been reserved for men. This activism positioned her as a key figure in the push for structural changes in the military hierarchy.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was residing in Portugal. An injury prevented her from returning to Ukraine immediately. However, she continued to support the country as a volunteer from abroad. On 10 September 2022, which was her birthday, she formally joined the military. This date marked a new chapter in her service, moving from voluntary support to active enlistment.

During her service in the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sharhovska was deployed in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. Her duties included carrying out medical evacuations and training other service members in tactical medicine. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she also pushed for female defenders to receive proper equipment. These efforts were crucial for ensuring that the material support provided to soldiers matched the demands of the battlefield.

Sharhovska was discharged from active duty in August 2024 for health reasons. Her colleagues at Novynarnia remembered her as a person of words and travel, with a deep interest in the world and in people. They noted that despite the difficulties she faced, she maintained her love for people and continued to help fellow soldiers. This included organizing fundraising efforts and buying vehicles for the front. Her motto, as cited by her colleagues, was to do what she believed needed to be done, and then come what may.

Bohdan Lohvynenko, a serviceman, journalist, writer, and founder of Ukraїner, also paid tribute to her. He recalled that they lived in neighbouring buildings in Vynohradar and often sat in one of their kitchens discussing editorial matters. He described her as an enormous source of support and a driving force behind many processes. At the same time, he noted that she remained quite harsh towards the unknown, reflecting the intensity she brought to both her professional and personal interactions.