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

Ukrainian Volunteer Soldier Opens Up About Traumatic Front-Line Experience

A 22-year-old Ukrainian volunteer soldier, Akula, has bravely shared his harrowing experiences of fighting on the front lines during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The young man joined the conflict at its inception and is now grappling with the long-term effects of war on his mental health.

Akula recounts that life as a soldier was incredibly tough, marked by constant fear, icy temperatures, and hunger. He described being alone for extended periods without any respite, with little to no human interaction beyond what he encountered during battles. These conditions have left him feeling "scary," "cold," "hungry," and most of all, deeply lonely.

Akula shared his story exclusively with CNN's David McKenzie, who has been documenting the lives of those caught up in the conflict. The young soldier opened up about his experiences, revealing the emotional toll that war can take on an individual's psyche.

The weight of war has left Akula struggling to cope with the trauma he witnessed and endured during his time on the front lines. His experience serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the need for support systems in place to help those affected by conflict.

OMG , can't believe what's happenin' over there . This young dude Akula is literally goin through hell and nobody seems to care . Mental health issues are gettin' way more attention now , but we need to be doin' more to support these brave soldiers like him . I mean, can you imagine bein in his shoes? Alone for hours on end with no one to talk to ... it's just heartbreaking . We gotta get behind these guys and help 'em heal . This is why we need more support systems in place !

I'm seriously worried about these young people getting caught up in conflicts like this . 22 years old, fighting for their country? It's just so not right. I mean, I get that some of them might feel a strong sense of duty or patriotism, but honestly, it's scary to think about the trauma they're going through . I know we need to support our troops and all that, but can't we do better than this? Like, what kind of support systems are in place for these guys when they come back? It's just not fair to them...

.. this story is just heartbreaking . I mean, we can't even imagine what it's like to be in Akula's shoes, fighting a war that's not even our own. It's crazy how quickly we lose ourselves in the heat of the moment, and then struggle to find ourselves again afterwards . The thing is, trauma isn't just something you 'get over', it's something you learn to live with, and sometimes that means finding new ways to connect with others or yourself . It's a tough lesson, but I think we can all learn from Akula's bravery (and vulnerability) about the importance of prioritizing our mental health, even in the face of adversity .

dude I'm literally shakin just thinkin bout what that kid went thru 22 years old and he's already seen so much trauma like how is he even supposed to bounce back from this? mental health is SO underrated I'm all about support systems and self-care now more than ever these soldiers put it all on the line for their country and we gotta make sure they got the help they need ASAP

I'm really moved by this story , it's so hard for young people like Akula to go through all that they did. I mean, 22 is way too young to be dealing with PTSD and loneliness, you know? It's crazy to think about how much he's been through - the fear, the cold, the hunger... I can only imagine how scary it must've been for him. But at the same time, I'm really proud of him for speaking out about his experiences, that takes a lot of courage . We need more people like Akula sharing their stories so we can better understand what's going on and support those who are affected by war .

I'm so moved by Akula's story ... it's like, you can just feel the weight of all that he went through. I mean, 22 years old and already carrying around PTSD and feelings of loneliness? It's heartbreaking. We need to do more to support our veterans and those affected by war - it's not just about physical injuries, but mental health too ... we gotta make sure they're getting the help they need before they come back to us.

OMG, I'm literally shook thinking about this poor kid Akula... Fighting at 22 is insane! The lack of basic human interaction must be super tough, no one wants to be alone that long without a break . He's struggling with PTSD and it's like, totally understandable - war is traumatic on the mind too, not just the body . We need more awareness about mental health and support for these brave folks who risk everything to protect their country