Ukraine War: Former Journalist Dies at 46 After 25 Months as Combat Medic

25 months of frontline duty defined the final chapter of Olena Sharhovska's life. She died at the age of 46, ending a career that spanned journalism, translation, and combat medicine. The Hospitallers commander, Yana Zinkevych, announced the news alongside former colleagues at the media outlet Novynarnia.

Sharhovska began her service in 2015. She volunteered with the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov before joining the Hospitallers battalion. Her medical work took her to the most intense sectors of the conflict. Zinkevych described Sharhovska's role in evacuating wounded soldiers from the front lines to stabilization points.

The former journalist enlisted on her 46th birthday, September 10, 2022. At the time, she was living in Portugal, where an injury had delayed her return to Ukraine. She supported the war effort as a volunteer from abroad until she could rejoin. She then entered the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Her deployments included Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. In these regions, she performed medical evacuations and trained other service members in tactical medicine. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she also advocated for proper equipment for female defenders. She was discharged in August 2024 for health reasons.

Sharhovska was a co-organizer of the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016. The event urged Ukrainian authorities to open military positions to women on equal footing with men. Her advocacy continued through her service, where she pushed for structural changes in the armed forces.

Before her military service, Sharhovska worked as a journalist, translator, and editor. She contributed to television, print media, and projects for Ukraїner and Osvitoria. Novynarnia described her as a person who maintained a deep interest in the world despite the difficulties of war. She continued to help fellow soldiers through fundraising and by purchasing vehicles for the front.

Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraїner, recalled living in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar. He noted that they often discussed editorial matters in their kitchens. He characterized her as a driving force behind many processes while remaining harsh toward the unknown.