A Ukrainian volunteer soldier, Akula, has opened up about his harrowing experience fighting on the front lines against Russian forces. The 20-year-old enlisted in the war just as it began, driven by a sense of patriotism and a desire to defend his homeland. Now, Akula is grappling with the devastating consequences of war – including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has left him feeling "scary," "cold," "hungry" for emotional connection, and "lonely."
Akula's story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict. The young soldier's time on the front lines was marked by intense physical and emotional strain, from the freezing temperatures to the psychological toll of witnessing atrocities firsthand. Speaking candidly with CNN's David McKenzie about his experience, Akula shared the weight of his emotions – from feelings of isolation to the struggle to reconnect with loved ones after returning home.
Akula's journey highlights the often-overlooked impact of war on those who fight it – particularly volunteers like himself who may not receive the same level of support as professional soldiers. As the conflict in Ukraine rages on, Akula's story serves as a call for greater awareness and understanding of the mental health needs of these brave individuals, who risk everything to protect their country.
Akula's story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict. The young soldier's time on the front lines was marked by intense physical and emotional strain, from the freezing temperatures to the psychological toll of witnessing atrocities firsthand. Speaking candidly with CNN's David McKenzie about his experience, Akula shared the weight of his emotions – from feelings of isolation to the struggle to reconnect with loved ones after returning home.
Akula's journey highlights the often-overlooked impact of war on those who fight it – particularly volunteers like himself who may not receive the same level of support as professional soldiers. As the conflict in Ukraine rages on, Akula's story serves as a call for greater awareness and understanding of the mental health needs of these brave individuals, who risk everything to protect their country.
. He's just 20 years old and already gone through hell on earth. The fact that he's struggling with PTSD after being in the front lines is totally understandable – those guys are put through some crazy stuff 
. And it's not just about him, it's about all these volunteers who don't get the same support as professional soldiers 
. It's like they're expected to just magically heal and move on without any help or resources 
. We need to be talking about this more and making sure that people like Akula get the support they need to cope with what they've been through 
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i think we need more resources for people like him who are fighting on the front lines mental health is everything, especially when you're facing life or death situations 
. He's struggling with PTSD and it's heartbreaking to think that he feels so disconnected from his emotions and loved ones after coming back home 
. I mean, can you imagine going through such trauma and feeling hungry for human connection? It just makes me want to hug him (or offer a listening ear) 
. The thing is, we usually only hear about the big picture of war, but Akula's story shows us that there are real people with real feelings on both sides 
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We should be supporting these young people, not just sending them off to fight. Their stories are what should be on our minds right now, not just the politics of war 
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. We gotta do more to support our troops, especially the volunteers who put everything on the line for their country. It's not just about the physical toll of war, but also the emotional scars that stick with you forever 
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akula's story is giving me chills... I mean, can you imagine being on the front lines, witnessing stuff that no human should ever have to see? it's crazy how some ppl take patriotism for granted 
and think it's all about serving their country, but what about their mental health 
and less attention on the emotional toll of war 
. I'm not saying they're not grateful for the attention, but this is a big deal and we should be doing more to help them out after the fact 
like, 20 yrs old? that's insane! 
we need to be talking about mental health support for folks who are fighting for their countries. it's not just physical wounds that matter, but emotional scars too 
what's even more heartbreaking is that volunteers like him might not get the same level of care as professional soldiers 
. Like, he's literally starving for human connection and feeling super lonely 
. And the worst part is, this is something that just happens to volunteers who aren't even getting the support they need 
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. I mean, who wouldn't want to give up their youth and potentially lose their sanity for the sake of patriotism? It's not like they had any other options or anything... 
.