Oksana Shachko

About Oksana Shachko

Oksana Shachko (also spelled Oxana Shachko was a Ukrainian artist, painter (specializing in subversive religious icons), and activist. She was a co-founder of the radical feminist protest group Femen in 2008 (along with Anna Hutsol and Alexandra Shevchenko), known for topless "sextremist" actions against patriarchy, religion, dictatorships, and corruption. She later distanced herself from the group around 2014, focusing on her art while living in exile in France (granted political asylum). She had a background as a child prodigy icon painter for the Orthodox Church before turning to activism.
She died on July 23, 2018, at age 31 in her apartment in Montrouge (a suburb south of Paris), France. French authorities and multiple reliable sources—including Wikipedia, The New York Times, Elle, The Paris Review, Artforum, and statements from Femen co-founders/friends—confirmed her death as a suicide by hanging. She had a prior suicide attempt by hanging, struggled with depression, refugee paperwork issues, and disillusionment. Friends reported she left a suicide note, and her body was discovered after concerns led to breaking into her apartment. No foul play was indicated, and the death was treated as suicide pending/after autopsy