Medical Service: Veteran Paramedic and Journalist Olena Sharhovska Passes Away

Olena Sharhovska, known professionally as Jane, has died after a career that spanned journalism, translation, and high risk tactical medicine. The announcement was made by Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, and by former colleagues at the media outlet Novynarnia. Sharhovska was a key figure in both the defense and media sectors of Ukraine.

Before dedicating her professional life to emergency medicine, Sharhovska built a significant presence in the media world. She worked as a journalist, translator, editor, and social media specialist, operating in both television and print formats. Her portfolio also included contributions to the projects of Ukraїner and Osvitoria. This background in communication would later aid her efforts to advocate for military reform and support fellow servicemembers.

Her pivot to the medical field began in 2015 when she started volunteering on the front line. She initially served with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov before joining the ranks of the Hospitallers. Zinkevych described Sharhovska's service as intense and critical. She noted that after mastering tactical medicine, Sharhovska went to the hottest sections of the front to evacuate the wounded. Zinkevych stated that she was snatching the lives of soldiers from the jaws of death while transporting them to stabilisation points.

Sharhovska was also a vocal advocate for gender equality within the military. She and her fellow servicewomen campaigned for women to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine on equal terms with men. In 2016, she helped organize the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv. This event was designed to urge government authorities to open military positions to women that had historically been reserved for men only.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Sharhovska was living in Portugal. An injury prevented her from returning to Ukraine immediately, but she continued to support the country as a volunteer from abroad. She finally joined the military on 10 September 2022, which happened to be her birthday. She subsequently served in the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

During her deployment, Sharhovska was stationed in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. Her duties included performing medical evacuations and training other service members in tactical medicine. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she actively pushed for female defenders to receive proper equipment. Health reasons led to her discharge from service in August 2024.

Colleagues and friends are remembering her with a mix of professional respect and personal affection. Novynarnia described her as a person of words and travel who had a deep interest in the world and in people. Despite the difficulties of war, the outlet reported that she maintained her love for words and people. She continued to help fellow soldiers through fundraising and even bought vehicles for the front. Her personal motto was to do what you believe needs to be done, and then come what may.

Bohdan Lohvynenko, a serviceman, journalist, writer, and founder of Ukraїner, also paid tribute to her memory. He recalled living in neighbouring buildings in Vynohradar and frequently sitting in one of their kitchens to discuss editorial matters. Lohvynenko described her as an enormous source of support and a driving force behind many processes. He noted that she remained quite harsh towards the unknown, a trait that likely fueled her relentless drive in both her medical and journalistic careers.