Olena Pyrozhenko, evacuated from Oleshky, dies in Kyiv hospital
The 56-year-old physical education teacher died on November 6 after arriving from the occupied peninsula via a humanitarian mission in late October.
By Meera Fletcher ·
Olena Pyrozhenko, a 56-year-old former physical education teacher, died in a Kyiv hospital on November 6. She had been evacuated from Oleshky in late October as part of a humanitarian operation that moved nearly 800 residents out of the area.
Pyrozhenko arrived in Kyiv with impaired motor functions. Her husband died under Russian occupation in the spring of 2026. Nadiia Shtanko, acting head of Oleshky Educational Institution No. 4, confirmed the death to Suspilne Kherson on November 8.
Colleagues described her final days as a struggle against severe pain. "Unfortunately, her heart, exhausted by the struggle, stopped beating in a Kyiv hospital," they wrote in a tribute. The teachers added that Pyrozhenko wanted to be close to her loved ones, but the pain she endured proved too much.
Before teaching, Pyrozhenko was a professional athlete. She held the title of Candidate for Master of Sports in athletics and competed for the USSR national team. Her school noted that she was remembered by pupils as a kind and sincere person who kept her word.
The late teacher’s colleagues highlighted her energetic demeanor and willingness to offer support. "She taught our children to keep moving forward, never give in to difficulties and stand firm," the teachers said. They expressed gratitude for her work and described her as a colleague who was always ready to help with advice or a kind word.
The evacuation that brought Pyrozhenko to Ukraine involved routing most residents through Russia and Belarus. Some evacuees are now being discharged from hospitals, while others continue to receive assistance. The organization UAnimals is caring for 88 animals rescued from Oleshky, many of whom suffer from exhaustion, concussions, or suspected tumors.
