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

Exclusive Interview Reveals Traumatic Reality of Young Volunteer Soldier on Front Lines in Ukraine

The war-torn landscape of Eastern Europe serves as a harsh backdrop for the grueling reality faced by Akula, a young volunteer soldier who enlisted at the onset of the Russian invasion. The 22-year-old's harrowing experience has left him struggling to cope with the psychological trauma that now haunts his every waking moment.

Akula shared his story with CNN's David McKenzie in an emotional and introspective conversation, shedding light on the mental health struggles he faces as a result of his time on the front lines. The young soldier recalled the day-to-day horrors of war – from witnessing colleagues fall to the relentless cold, hunger, and loneliness that seemed to suffocate him at every turn.

As he recounted his experiences, Akula's words painted a vivid picture of the dehumanizing conditions he endured. He spoke candidly about feeling scared, alone, and disconnected from humanity as he navigated the unforgiving landscape of war-torn Ukraine.

The psychological toll of war on young volunteers like Akula is nothing new, but his story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict. His words are a stark warning to those who would enlist in the face of uncertainty and chaos – that the price of heroism can be steep indeed, and one must be prepared for the long, arduous journey of recovery.

The conversation with Akula has sparked a renewed focus on the often-overlooked mental health struggles faced by those serving on the front lines. His story is a call to action, urging policymakers and mental health advocates to take a closer look at the unique challenges facing young volunteers in conflict zones around the world.
 
omg u gotta feel bad 4 this guy akula hes been thru so much & people are still not talkin about how mental health affects soldiers 🤕🚨 it's like we wanna forget that war isnt just about guns & explosions, its also about the emotional toll it takes on ppl's minds 💔 i mean, can u blame him 4 feelin scared, alone & disconnected from humanity? thats what war does 2 u 🌪️ anyway, i think its great that he spoke out about his experiences cuz now ppl are finally startin 2 listen & talk about mental health in war zones 🗣️ lets just hope ppl learn from akula's story & take action 2 support these brave soldiers 💪
 
🤔 I'm telling you, this kid Akula's story is more than just a personal struggle... it's like, have you noticed how all these young soldiers are suddenly speaking out about PTSD and mental health issues? It's like the government is trying to control the narrative or something 🙅‍♂️. And what's with all these exclusive interviews? It's like they're trying to shape public opinion on purpose 💡. I mean, I'm not saying it's all a cover-up, but there's definitely something fishy going on here 🐟. We need to be careful about what we're accepting at face value...
 
🤕 I'm still trying to wrap my head around this interview with Akula... it's like, you know when you're watching a war documentary or something, but then you see the face of the person in front of the camera and it's like... wow, that's not just some actor playing a role, that's real life right there 😱. And the stuff he said about feeling scared and alone and disconnected from humanity... it's like, what even is that? How do you survive something like that? 🤔

And I'm glad people are finally talking about this more, but at the same time, it's like, we should've been doing this a long time ago. I mean, we know wars have psychological effects on soldiers, but it's not just about PTSD or whatever... it's like, what happens after that? How do you deal with the fact that you saw some of your friends die and stuff? 🤕 It's not something that just magically gets better, you know?

And I think this is why we need to talk more about mental health in general. Like, it's not just for soldiers or people going through traumatic experiences... it's for anyone who's struggling with their emotions, whether it's from work or school or whatever. We need to start normalizing the conversation around mental health and making it okay to ask for help 🤗.

I remember when I was in college, there were some guys on my friend group who went off to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan, and we all thought they'd be fine... like, they're young, they're strong, they'll be fine. But what happened? They came back with PTSD, depression, anxiety... it was like, we didn't know how to support them, you know? And now we're hearing about other soldiers who are going through the same thing, and it's just... yeah 🤕.

Anyway, I don't know if this is totally on point or whatever, but I just wanted to say that Akula's story needs to be heard more. We need to listen to people like him and try to understand what they're going through 😔.
 
This whole thing got me thinking, what's the real cost of "volunteering" for our governments when it comes to conflicts abroad? 🤔 I mean, we're always told that these young folks are putting themselves on the line for us, but at what point do we start taking responsibility for their well-being? It's not like they were just some enthusiastic Instagram influencer who decided to take a gap year... 😒

And have you seen the state of our mental health services in this country? 🤯 We're always talking about PTSD and veteran support, but it feels like those systems are still woefully underfunded. Maybe we should be questioning why these young people are even being sent into harm's way without proper support and resources?

It's time for a national conversation about what it means to serve our country, and whether the risks are worth the reward. 💪
 
OMG, this story is giving me all the feels 😭 Akula's bravery and selflessness as a young volunteer soldier is truly inspiring, but it's also heartbreaking to think about the trauma he's been through 🤕 Mental health struggles are super common among soldiers, especially those in their 20s, so I'm glad CNN is shedding light on this issue 📰 It's not just about Akula or Ukraine, though - his story has a bigger impact because it highlights how we can all support our fellow humans during times of crisis ❤️ We need to make sure policymakers and mental health advocates are prioritizing the well-being of these young heroes 👏
 
I'm so done with the hero narrative around these volunteer soldiers 🙄 they're not heroes, they're human beings who are being forced to deal with some of the most traumatic experiences imaginable. We need to stop glorifying their service and start recognizing the mental health struggles they face when they get back home 😕. It's like, we praise them for putting themselves in harm's way, but what about after they've left the battlefield? The recovery process is just as important, if not more so 🤕. We need to be supporting these guys with access to proper mental health resources and a safe space to talk about their experiences, not just throwing them back into civilian life without any support 🚫. It's time for us to take a closer look at the long-term effects of war on young volunteers and make sure we're doing everything we can to help them heal 💔.
 
I'm really worried about these young people like Akula, you know? I mean, he's only 22, still young his whole life ahead of him... but he's been through so much already. The thought of witnessing colleagues fall and being all alone with no end to the cold and hunger is just heartbreaking 🤕. It makes me wonder how many more are struggling in silence, too scared to speak out or ask for help. We need to do better, I think - we need to make sure these young people have access to mental health support, not just a pat on the back and a "job well done" when they get back home 🤝. It's not all about their bravery, it's about their humanity too...
 
I'm like totally shook after reading this 😱... I mean, can you even imagine being on the front lines of war? 🤯 The psychological stuff they go through is just so sad 🤕 and it makes me grateful for my own life, you know? 💖 My friend's cousin is a volunteer soldier too, but he's still in training so we haven't talked about it yet... I wonder how that would be though? 🤔 Is it like, super hard to deal with the emotions afterwards? 🤗 Do they have, like, special therapy or something? 💁‍♀️
 
🤯 I mean, who wouldn't want to enlist as a 22-yr-old into war? 🙄 All that romance about fighting for a cause... until you're face-to-face with PTSD, am I right? 😩 The guy's story is super relatable if you've ever felt like you're just a pawn in someone else's game. We should all give it up for our brave young soldiers who are basically playing Russian roulette with their sanity 🎲💀
 
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