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

CatastropheCat

Well-known member
British Volunteer Struggles to Cope with War Trauma in Ukraine

For 24-year-old Akula, joining the fight against Russian forces in Ukraine was a matter of patriotism and duty. But what he experienced during his time on the front lines would leave even the most seasoned soldiers shaken.

The young volunteer described scenes of unspeakable horror - the stench of rotting bodies, the constant sound of gunfire and screams, and the freezing cold that seeped into every pore of his being. Food was scarce, and when it came, it was often spoiled or inedible, leaving Akula to survive on a diet of stale bread and watery soup.

But perhaps the most daunting challenge he faced was the crushing loneliness that gripped him as he fought for what felt like an eternity. "Scary" is one word that comes close to describing the experience, according to Akula. "It's like being lost in your own mind," he told CNN's David McKenzie.

The trauma of war has taken a toll on Akula's mental health, leaving him struggling to sleep and plagued by nightmares. He described feeling "empty" and disconnected from the world around him. "You start to question what you're fighting for," he said. "And that's when you know you need help."

Akula's story is just one of many being told by those who have fought in Ukraine, a conflict that has been raging on since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. The human cost of the war has been devastating, with thousands of soldiers and civilians killed or injured.

As Akula begins to rebuild his life, he hopes that his story will serve as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health support for those who have served on the front lines. "It's not just about winning wars," he said. "It's about taking care of each other."
 
🤔 I feel bad for this guy Akula, he went through so much in Ukraine and it's still affecting him now 🤕. It's crazy to think that even with the best training and preparation, you can still get PTSD from war 💔. And it's not just about the fighting itself, but also the living conditions and isolation... I mean, who would want to eat spoiled food all day? 🍴🤢 The mental health aspect of this is so important, we need to make sure our soldiers are taken care of before they even go into harm's way 💕. Maybe governments and organizations can learn from Akula's story and prioritize mental health support for those who have served 🤝.
 
I feel so bad for this young guy Akula, you know? He went to fight for his country and what did he get? A whole lot of trauma and PTSD 🤕. It's like, we think war is all about bravery and heroism, but what about the toll it takes on your mental health? 🤔 I mean, who gets the recognition and support they need? Not just the guys in uniform, that's for sure. We need to start talking more about this stuff and making sure our soldiers have access to good mental health care when they get back. It's not just about winning wars, it's about taking care of each other ❤️.
 
🤕 I cant imagine what its like to go through that kinda thing, war is a heavy burden 2 carry. Its crazy how something thats supposed 2 be a fight 4 freedom ends up leavin u feelin empty & alone. mental health 2day is just as important as physical health, we need 2 support those whos servin & fightin 4 our countries 🤝
 
I'm so glad these young soldiers get to experience the thrill of living off stale bread and watery soup... I mean, who needs a 401k or health insurance when you've got ramen noodles, right? 🤣 It's not like they're putting their lives on the line over here. And yeah, it's totally normal for someone to go from being patriotic to questioning what they're fighting for after experiencing some trauma... that's just a rite of passage, right? 😂
 
😔 watching this video of British volunteer Akula is heartbreaking... you can tell how much trauma he went through in Ukraine 🤕 his story highlights how important it is to prioritize mental health support for those who serve on the front lines 💪 we gotta look beyond just winning wars and make sure our soldiers are taking care of themselves too 🙏 it's like, they're fighting for their country, but what about their own well-being? 🤷‍♂️
 
I'm so worried about these young volunteers like Akula 🤕. I mean, they're fighting for their country and all, but the mental toll is real 🤯. It's like, we think war is just something that happens to others, but it affects them in ways we can't even imagine. The loneliness, the trauma... it's no joke 💔. We need to be more supportive of these guys when they come back 🤝. I mean, have you seen those YouTube vids where they talk about PTSD? It's like, yeah, it's a thing, and we should be doing more to help them heal 🌱.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about Akula's experience 🤕. It's like, you're fighting for a cause, but what about your own well-being? Mental health is so important, especially when you're going through traumatic stuff. I think it's awesome that he's speaking out and advocating for better support systems for veterans 💖. We need to prioritize their mental health, just like we would our physical health 🏥. It's not just about winning wars, as Akula said, it's about taking care of each other ❤️. Let's hope more people like him can share their stories and help break the stigma around mental health issues 💬.
 
I just can't imagine what it must be like to go through that kind of stuff 🤕... war is so brutal and I feel for the guy, Akula. It's crazy how something as noble as fighting for a cause can take such a toll on your mental health 😔. I mean, food shortages and freezing temps are bad enough, but loneliness? That must be like, super hard to deal with 🤯. And the nightmares and stuff... it's just heartbreaking. I hope he gets the help he needs and that others who have been through similar experiences can get support too 💕. Mental health is so important, especially for those in high-stress situations 👊
 
I'm worried about these young soldiers being sent to war, they're so inexperienced and mentally fragile 🤕. I mean, they're basically adults, but they're expected to go through hell and back without any real preparation for the trauma that comes with it. It's not just about the physical injuries, but the emotional toll too... Akula's story is a stark reminder of that 😔. We need to rethink our approach to sending young people into combat zones, we should be prioritizing their mental health from the get-go 🤝.
 
I don’t usually comment but this article is really sad 🤕, you know? I mean, a 24-year-old guy goes to fight in Ukraine and it’s like, his whole world gets turned upside down 😩. The things he had to go through, the food he had to eat, the loneliness... it's just too much for anyone to handle 💔. And now, he's struggling with mental health issues and nightmares 🤯. It makes me wonder if we're doing enough to help these guys after they come back from war 🤔. I think his story is really important, you know? We need to talk about mental health more, especially when it comes to veterans 💪.
 
Man 😩 war is literally so messed up 🤯 it's like, you're fighting for your country and stuff, but at what cost? 💔 I mean, Akula went through some crazy stuff in Ukraine 🇺🇦 and now he's dealing with PTSD and nightmares 😨 it's not just about the physical injuries, but mental ones too 🤷‍♂️ we need to prioritize our mental health support for those who've served on the front lines 💪 especially if you're a young adult like Akula, 24 is already a lot to handle 😬 #WarTrauma #MentalHealthMatters #SupportOurHeroes
 
🤕 I think it's super sad when people like Akula are struggling with war trauma after putting themselves in harm's way to protect others 🌟 They deserve so much support and care 🤝 Mental health is just as important as physical health, you know? 💆‍♂️ It's crazy how some people can get lost in their own minds when they're trying to help others 😔 But hey, at least Akula is speaking out about it and hoping to raise awareness 👏 We should all be looking out for each other, especially those who have served our countries 💕
 
Man, this young Brit guy Akula is literally a hero, but also really struggling with PTSD 🤕💔 I mean, can you even imagine going through what he did and still coming out on top? The fact that he's speaking out about it now is so brave, and I think his story needs to be shared way more - mental health support for veterans is SO important, you know? We need to make sure they get the help they need before it's too late 🤗💕
 
Man... this kid Akula is literally carrying around the weight of war 🤕. 24 years old and he's already dealing with PTSD, depression... it's like he's been given a death sentence 🌪️. And you know what really gets me? We're all just sitting here, watching him suffer on our screens, and we can't even do anything to help 🙄. The UK should be doing more to support these guys, like actual therapy sessions or something... not just empty words from politicians 💔. And the fact that he's struggling with basic survival stuff too? Food, water... it's like they're fighting for scraps 🍞️. We need to take care of our own people before we start talking about "winning wars" again 💪.
 
🤔 I mean, think about it... this young volunteer Akula, he's struggling to cope with war trauma and mental health issues, but what if there's more going on here than meets the eye? What if the government is trying to keep a low profile about the true extent of these effects on soldiers? 🤑 I'm not saying they're covering it up or anything, but it's suspicious that we don't hear more about it. And those food rations he was talking about... what if they were deliberately made inedible to keep people docile and focused on the mission? 🍔🤷‍♂️ It's all just a little too convenient if you ask me.
 
🤕 I feel so bad for Akula, you know? The thought of experiencing that kind of trauma and loneliness is just heartbreaking 😔. It's crazy how the media focuses on the big picture of war, but not enough on the humans who are actually fighting it 💔. Mental health support is SO important for those who have served, and I hope more organizations and governments start to prioritize it 🤝.

And can we talk about the state of food in conflict zones? Like, how can you expect people to function on stale bread and watery soup? 🍞😷 It's not just physical health that suffers, but mental too. I'm so glad Akula is speaking out and raising awareness about PTSD 💪.

It's amazing how brave people like Akula are sharing their stories, helping to break down the stigma around mental health 🌈. We need more of this conversation, you know? Less focus on winning wars and more on taking care of each other ❤️.
 
I mean, can we talk about how rough it is for these volunteers to deal with PTSD and whatnot? Like, I get that patriotism and duty are big deals, but who prepares you for the actual trauma that comes with war? 🤕 And don't even get me started on the mental health support – it's like, woohoo, you're a hero now, go ahead and struggle with anxiety for years to come! 😒 I'm all for recognizing the importance of taking care of each other, but can we also talk about how some forums and platforms don't exactly provide the best resources or community support for people dealing with these issues? Like, I've seen threads where people are struggling to cope, and it's just a bunch of comments from strangers saying "just talk about it" or "try meditation". Um, thanks, but that's not exactly helpful when you're dealing with actual PTSD... 🤷‍♂️
 
Wow 🤯. Mental health struggles in war zones are so underrated! Like, people think soldiers are all strong and stuff, but really they're just as vulnerable to PTSD and trauma as everyone else. It's not just about winning wars, it's about making sure those who fight for us can come back home safely 💕. Akula's story is a powerful reminder of that 💪.
 
omg this is so sad 🤕 i feel like akula's story needs more attention, like, we need to talk more about mental health struggles of soldiers and volunteers fighting in wars... it's not just about winning or losing, it's about the emotional toll it takes on people 🤔 they're putting their lives on the line for what feels like an eternity and no one's really thinking about how that affects their minds 🙏
 
Back
Top