Ukrainian journalist and medic dies

Ukraine lost a dual career veteran who bridged the gap between media and military medicine on October 24, 2026.

Olena Sharhovska, known professionally as Jane, died after years of service as a paramedic and a journalist. Yana Zinkevych, the commander of the Hospitallers medical battalion, announced the news. Her former colleagues at the media outlet Novynarnia also confirmed her passing. Sharhovska had built a reputation for working under fire while advocating for structural changes in the armed forces.

Her career began in the media sector, where she worked as a translator, editor, and social media specialist. She contributed to television and print projects, including work with Ukraïner and Osvitoria. In 2015, she shifted her focus to medical volunteering. She first joined the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital named after Mykola Pyrohov. She later became a core member of the Hospitallers battalion. Zinkevych described Sharhovska’s role as evacuating wounded soldiers from the most intense combat zones. The commander noted that Sharhovska stabilized patients on the way to medical points, often saving lives from the brink of death.

Sharhovska was a vocal advocate for gender equality in the Ukrainian military. She co-organized the Invisible Battalion March in Kyiv in 2016. The event aimed to pressure authorities to open military positions to women. During the full-scale invasion, she was in Portugal. An injury delayed her return to Ukraine, but she continued to support the war effort as a remote volunteer. She officially enlisted in the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on September 10, 2022, which was also her birthday.

Her deployment included front lines in Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Kharkiv Oblast. In these areas, she performed medical evacuations and trained other service members in tactical medicine. As a member of the Women's Veteran Movement, she pushed for better equipment for female defenders. Health issues led to her discharge from active service in August 2024.

Novynarnia remembered her as a person dedicated to words, travel, and helping others. The outlet stated that she continued to assist fellow soldiers through fundraising and by purchasing vehicles for the front. Her personal motto was to do what she believed was necessary and accept the consequences. Bohdan Lohvynenko, a journalist and founder of Ukraïner, shared memories of their time living in neighboring buildings in Vynohradar. He recalled frequent editorial discussions in their kitchens. Lohvynenko described her as a source of support and a driving force behind many projects, while noting her harshness toward the unknown.