Kherson volunteer Olena Tarasenko, injured in Russian attack, dies in hospital

Kherson volunteer Olena Tarasenko, who sustained severe injuries as a result of a Russian attack on 24 May, has died in hospital at the age of 48.

Source: Suspilne, citing journalist Tetiana Savulia, Olena's friend

Details: According to the journalist, Olena was transferred to the neurology department a week ago.

At around 09:00 on 4 July, Olena Tarasenko died. She is survived by her 85-year-old mother and her 21-year-old son.

On 24 May, Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that at around 09:45, Russian forces shelled the Korabelnyi district of Kherson with artillery. Olena Tarasenko was taken to hospital in a critical condition. An 81-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man were also injured.

At the time, Tetiana Savulia said that Olena Tarasenko had been driving a car during the shelling. She sustained severe shrapnel wounds and underwent surgery on the day of her hospitalisation.

After the liberation of Kherson, Suspilne spoke with Olena Tarasenko.

During Russian occupation, she evacuated 50 people to territory controlled by Ukraine.

When returning to Kherson, she brought medicines, animal feed and food.

During one of these trips, the woman was captured by Russian forces and held for eight days. She was kept in a torture facility set up by Russian troops in the basements of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kherson Oblast.

After Kherson was liberated, Olena moved to Ternopil, where her son was staying, and began working at the Legal Space centre. Six months later, she returned to Kherson again. She worked as a case manager in a safe space for women and girls.