As a volunteer soldier in Ukraine, 20-year-old Akula witnessed firsthand the brutal realities of war. When the Russian invasion began in February, he enlisted to join the fight against invading forces. Now, months later, the once enthusiastic young man is struggling with a cocktail of emotions - fear, loneliness, hunger, and physical pain.
Akula's experience on the front lines has left him shaken, haunted by the memories of what he saw and heard. He describes the feeling of isolation as 'scary' and 'lonely', noting that even in a combat zone, soldiers often feel disconnected from one another. The constant sound of gunfire and explosions took its toll on his mental health, leaving him with symptoms of PTSD.
One of the most significant challenges Akula faced was going without basic necessities such as food and water for extended periods. 'It was really hard to get used to,' he said, recalling days when he went without a hot meal or access to clean drinking water. His body suffered from malnutrition and dehydration, further exacerbating his emotional distress.
Akula's account serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, where the effects of conflict extend far beyond the battlefield. As he navigates the challenges of post-war life, Akula's story underscores the need for support systems to help soldiers cope with trauma and find peace once again.
Akula's experience on the front lines has left him shaken, haunted by the memories of what he saw and heard. He describes the feeling of isolation as 'scary' and 'lonely', noting that even in a combat zone, soldiers often feel disconnected from one another. The constant sound of gunfire and explosions took its toll on his mental health, leaving him with symptoms of PTSD.
One of the most significant challenges Akula faced was going without basic necessities such as food and water for extended periods. 'It was really hard to get used to,' he said, recalling days when he went without a hot meal or access to clean drinking water. His body suffered from malnutrition and dehydration, further exacerbating his emotional distress.
Akula's account serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, where the effects of conflict extend far beyond the battlefield. As he navigates the challenges of post-war life, Akula's story underscores the need for support systems to help soldiers cope with trauma and find peace once again.
. I mean, can you imagine being in a war zone and feeling like you're not even human anymore? The lack of basic necessities is just heartbreaking - food, water, they're basic things we take for granted, but for him it was like he was living in a nightmare. And PTSD, man... that's no joke 
. I think we need to do more to support our soldiers and their families after the war. They shouldn't have to deal with this stuff on their own 
. We should be doing everything we can to help them heal and find peace again 
.
just thinkin bout this kid Akula & what he went thru is literally breakin my heart... war is no joke, it's like a never-endin nightmare that gets stuck in your head 4eva 
PTSD is so real, I can only imagine how scary it must be 2 experience 
. we need 2 make sure we're raisin awareness & gettin resources 2 help these heroes cope w/ their trauma 
. And the worst part is, he's still trying to process everything that happened. PTSD, man... it's like, you'd think we'd be more prepared for this stuff by now 
.
. It's like, we're still treating them like heroes, but they're actually just human beings who need help.
.
It's crazy how war affects the human body & mind, leaving soldiers feeling isolated even in the midst of chaos... 
We really need to make sure they get the support they need when they come back home 
and at the same time, i think we should be doing more to support these soldiers when they come back home 
because it's not just physical pain they're dealing with, its mental too 
. The fact that they're struggling with PTSD, hunger, and loneliness... it's just heartbreaking 
.
this is so sad I can feel the weight of his struggles reading about it, like, how can you even eat without feeling hungry all the time? 
I wish people knew just how hard it was for soldiers to cope with PTSD, like, they're not just fighting physically, but also mentally 
. We can't even ask them to sacrifice their lives for us and then expect them to just be fine after it's all done 
.
his mental health is seriously suffering from PTSD, but you know what? I'm actually kinda hopeful that his story will bring attention to the importance of support systems for soldiers like him... maybe it'll inspire some change? 
we need more people talking about this stuff so we can make a difference 
physical & emotional pain are real 
food, water, and human connection are essentials not just for life, but for healing too 