Olena Sharhovska, a medic who pulled soldiers from the front line, dies

Olena Sharhovska, a veteran paramedic and former journalist, has died at the age of 46. Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, announced the news, as did her former colleagues at the media outlet Novynarnia.

Sharhovska spent 25 months serving in the military before being discharged in August 2024 for health reasons. She joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 10 September 2022, her birthday, after an injury in Portugal initially delayed her return from abroad. She served with the International Legion and was deployed to Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast.

Her military career followed a long path in media. Before turning to medicine, she worked as a translator, editor, and social media specialist for television and print outlets. She contributed to projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria. Her transition to the front line began in 2015 when she volunteered with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov.

Zinkevych described Sharhovska’s role in tactical medicine. The commander stated that Sharhovska evacuated wounded soldiers from the most intense sections of the front line to stabilization points. Alongside her medical duties, she trained other service members in tactical medicine. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she advocated for female defenders to receive proper equipment. She was also a co-organizer of the 2016 Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv, which urged authorities to open military positions to women.

Novynarnia described her as a person deeply interested in the world and in people. The outlet noted that she continued to support fellow soldiers through fundraising and by purchasing vehicles for the front. They cited her motto: "Do what you believe needs to be done, and then come what may."

Bohdan Lohvynenko, the founder of Ukraїner and a fellow journalist, recalled living in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar. He remembered sitting in their kitchens discussing editorial matters. Lohvynenko called her an enormous source of support and a driving force behind many processes.

The Hospitallers battalion continues to operate, with Zinkevych leading the unit. Sharhovska’s service concluded in 2024, but her contributions to tactical medicine and women’s military roles remain part of the unit's history. Her former colleagues at Novynarnia andUkraїner have shared their tributes on social media and their official channels.