Biography

Zbarska Olena Mykhailivna was born on February 14, 1972, in Kharkiv. From childhood she stood out for her eagerness and love of learning. At school she excelled in mathematics, often helping classmates and earning recognition in regional competitions. Her passion for numbers and logical thinking led her to study mathematics at the Kharkiv National Pedagogical University named after H.S. Skovoroda, choosing teaching as her vocation.

After graduating, Olena became a mathematics teacher in a local secondary school. She was respected by colleagues and beloved by students for her clarity, patience, and ability to inspire confidence. Many of her pupils later pursued technical and scientific careers, remembering her as the teacher who opened the door to their future.

In 2014, as the war in eastern Ukraine began, Olena moved to Dnipro seeking stability and new opportunities. There she continued her teaching career, but after several years decided to return to her native Kharkiv, where her family roots and memories remained strongest.

Olena’s life was tragically cut short on March 7, 2022, when Russian bombardment struck her residential neighborhood in Kharkiv. A missile hit the apartment block where she lived, and the explosion claimed her life instantly, along with several other civilians. Her death was a heavy loss for her family, colleagues, and former students.

She is remembered as a gifted teacher, and a woman of integrity whose dedication to education and resilience in the face of hardship left a lasting mark. Her memory endures in the generations she taught and in the hearts of those who loved her.