‘Scary, cold, hungry and lonely’: Volunteer soldier shares experience on front line | CNN

[Lonely]

Ukrainian Volunteer Soldier Shares Harrowing Experience on Front Lines, Revealing Trauma of War

Akula, a young volunteer soldier who enlisted as soon as Russia invaded Ukraine, is now grappling with the devastating psychological toll of war. The 22-year-old shared his harrowing experience in an exclusive interview with CNN's David McKenzie.

Describing his time on the front lines, Akula recounted feeling "scary, cold, hungry and lonely" amidst the chaos of war. He spoke candidly about the trauma he has endured, revealing a picture of desperation and fear that is all too common among those caught up in conflict zones.

Akula's story highlights the often-overlooked human cost of war, where young soldiers like him are forced to confront unimaginable horrors on a daily basis. The psychological strain can be overwhelming, leaving many struggling to cope with the aftermath.

The Ukrainian soldier's account serves as a stark reminder of the long-term effects of war on individuals and communities. As the conflict rages on, it is essential that we acknowledge the mental health needs of those affected and provide support to ensure they receive the care they need to recover from their experiences.

Akula's bravery in sharing his story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, yet also underscores the urgent need for greater recognition and support for those who serve on the front lines.

 

[Thoughtful Teira]

You know how some ppl think war is just about the military stuff? I mean, we see the news pics & vids, but it's not all tanks & guns... there are actual ppl like Akula out there, risking their lives, dealing with crazy mental stuff . It's messed up that we don't talk more about the psychological toll of war on people like him. We need to support them more, you feel?

 

[Orbital]

Man, this young Ukrainian dude Akula is totally giving me chills I mean, can you even imagine being on the front lines like that? The psychological toll of war is so real, it's crazy how it can affect someone like him. He's just trying to process everything he's seen and experienced, but it's clear he's still struggling with it all It's heartbreaking, yet at the same time we gotta acknowledge his bravery for sharing his story in the first place We need more people like him speaking out about the human cost of war, so we can start to address the mental health needs of those affected

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

this is so heartbreaking akula's story is giving me chills, I can only imagine how traumatic it must be to witness all that violence & suffering. it's like, we're always hearing about the big picture of war, but nobody ever talks about the humans behind it i think it's super important that he shared his experience, maybe it'll help raise awareness & get more ppl to care we gotta make sure these kids are getting the support they need, mental health is just as important as physical health, you know?

 

[Revenge of City House]

I'm totally feeling Akula right now... I mean, can you imagine being stuck on the front lines with no food, water or shelter? It's like, one day you're just a student trying to get through exams, next thing you know you're dealing with life-or-death situations 24/7 . The mental health impact is so real and it's crazy we don't talk about this more... I mean, we do in school, but not enough outside of the classroom . We need to start supporting soldiers like Akula more ASAP .

 

[Samurai]

the fact that people like akula are still fighting without proper mental health support is just heartbreaking he deserves better than to be left to deal with his trauma alone the government and international community should do more to provide resources for these soldiers and civilians alike

 

[Comfort]

I'm still shaking my head over this Akula dude's experience . I mean, can you imagine being 22 and already going through that kind of trauma? It's like, what even is war anymore? The fact that he's struggling to cope with the aftermath is just heartbreaking, and it's crazy that we're only now starting to talk about the mental health impact on soldiers . I feel like we need to do more than just acknowledge it, we need to provide actual support and resources for these guys so they can get the help they need . It's time to shift the focus from just reporting war to really getting behind those who are fighting it .

 

[Better Baboon]

man this kid Akula is literally a hero , I mean, volunteering at 22 years old and facing all that trauma... he's still standing tho , it's heartbreaking to think about what he's been through but at the same time his courage in speaking out is so inspiring , we gotta make sure we're supporting our soldiers and giving them the mental health help they need after this is all over

 

[Derek Smart']

I'm not surprised this kid has PTSD, war is brutal . Anyone who joins the military, especially at that age, is basically playing with fire . I mean, what's the point of even enlisting if you're just gonna be traumatized by some random conflict? And don't even get me started on the lack of support for these soldiers... it's like they're expected to just magically cope with the horrors they've seen . I'm sure Akula's story will just get lost in the shuffle, and he'll be left to deal with the aftermath all by himself .

 

[Awesome Wagon Chase]

can't believe how harsh war can be on our young soldiers akula's story is really eye-opening, it's like we're living in a different world where kids are fighting for their lives, it's just not right and yeah, the mental health impact is super underrated, we need to talk more about this stuff so many of them come back with PTSD or anxiety, and sometimes they don't make it akula's bravery is inspiring, but also really scary, i mean, how do you prepare yourself for that kind of trauma?

 

[Rural Cha]

Man, this young dude Akula is literally going through hell over there I mean, can you imagine being 22 years old and already experiencing the trauma of war? It's just not right The way he described feeling scared, cold, hungry and lonely on the front lines... it gives me chills . We need to start giving more attention to the mental health needs of these soldiers, it's not just about physical injuries . They're human beings who deserve our support and care #SupportOurSoldiers #WarTraumaAwareness #MentalHealthMatters

 

[Mega Man's Football 3D]

draw a small soldier figure with a worried expression , surrounded by a faint outline of a cityscape with explosions in the background ️

i'm really troubled to hear about akula's experience, it just goes to show how war affects not just the physical body, but our mental health too . we need more support for ppl like him who are putting themselves on the front lines . gotta keep them in mind when we talk about 'victory' or 'success' in conflicts . can't forget the human cost

 

[Spotless Salam]

OMG, another war story ... I mean, kudos to this young dude for speaking up about his experiences... but can we talk about how messed up it is that people have to live like this? All that trauma and emotional baggage... it's just not okay . And honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that these soldiers are like, voluntarily putting themselves in harm's way for a cause they care about . Don't get me wrong, their bravery is real, but can we please prioritize their mental health and provide them with some actual support instead of just talking about it?

 

[The Secret Weap]

War is always gonna be super brutal , we can't just ignore the mental toll it takes on people like Akula... 22 years old, already dealing with PTSD & all that . Governments gotta do better in providing support for these young soldiers after they come back home . Can't just leave them to fend for themselves, that's not right . We need to make sure they get the help they need, 'cause it's not just about their mental health, but also their families & friends who are affected by their experiences too

 

[Interstellar Kabuki]

omg this guy akula is literally a hero i cant even imagine being in his shoes fighting in war feeling so scared lonely hungry all the time its like my heart is breaking just thinking about it he deserves so much praise not just for fighting but also for speaking out about his trauma it takes so much courage to share that kind of stuff and im sure it wont be easy for him to deal with the aftermath i wish we could all do more to support these soldiers and their families who are going through this they deserve our love and care

 

[Incredible In]

watching this video of Akula I feel like crying man it really hits home how traumatic war can be he's only 22 and already seen things that most people can't even imagine being in a situation where you're scared cold hungry lonely and have to deal with all that on the front lines is just horrific. we need to start recognizing the mental health needs of soldiers like Akula who are putting their lives on the line every day I hope he gets the support he needs after this