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

Frontline Experience Takes Toll on Young Volunteer Soldier

A 21-year-old volunteer soldier, whose identity remains anonymous, recounts the harrowing reality of war, where basic human needs like warmth, food, and companionship are constantly at risk. This young recruit, who enlisted as soon as Russia's invasion began, now grapples with debilitating mental anguish.

The grueling conditions on the front lines have left him feeling desperate, shivering with fear in temperatures often plummeting below zero degrees Celsius. Hunger is another constant companion, making every meal a source of desperation and anxiety. To make matters worse, he has been surrounded by the eerie silence of war, leaving him longing for human connection.

His experience on the battlefield has taken its toll on his mental health, with the young soldier now struggling to cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Sharing his harrowing story, he revealed that life as a volunteer soldier is nothing like it was in reality. The fear and uncertainty are overwhelming, leaving him feeling numb and detached from the world around him.

"I'm scared all the time," he admits in an emotional interview. "I've seen things no human should ever have to witness – death, destruction, and despair." His eyes betray a deep sense of trauma as he recounts the horrors of war, where every moment is a struggle for survival.

The devastating effects of war on mental health are becoming increasingly apparent, with many young soldiers like Akula struggling to cope with the aftermath. As the conflict rages on, it's clear that more needs to be done to support those who have been affected by this senseless violence.

With the world watching from afar, it's imperative that we acknowledge the humanity behind these young soldiers, who are fighting for their countries but also fighting for their sanity and well-being. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of war and the need for urgent support to address the mental health trauma they've endured.
 
This story is breaking my heart 🤕. We're living in a world where kids are dropping everything to fight wars, only to come back with emotional scars that'll last a lifetime 💔. It's like we're ignoring the human cost of conflict. War isn't just about winning or losing, it's about people's lives, their families, and their sanity 🌎.

We need to ask ourselves what we can do to support these young soldiers when they come back. It's not just about throwing them some cash or a fancy rehab program – it's about giving them the emotional space to heal and be human again 🤗. We need to listen to their stories, validate their feelings, and remind them that they're not alone in this fight.

It's time for us to put our heads together and figure out how to support these heroes without sacrificing their humanity 💪.
 
OMG THIS KID IS GOING THROUGH THE WORST THING ANYONE COULD EVER IMAGINE!!! HOW CAN YOU EXPECT SOME 21-YEAR-OLD TO HANDLE BEING SURROUNDED BY DEATH, DESTRUCTION, AND DESPAIR ALL DAY, EVERY DAY? IT'S LIKE, HE'S ALREADY FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND NOW HE'S GOT TO DEAL WITH MENTAL ANGUISH?! 😱💔 I FEEL SO BAD FOR THIS KID, HE DESERVES SO MUCH BETTER THAN TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS. WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT THESE YOUNG SOLDIERS BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR MINDS COMPLETELY!!! 🤯💖
 
🤕 I cant even imagine having to go through all that in real life, i mean like in school we have exams and stress but at least we have our friends and family to talk to...this volunteer soldier is literally fighting for his life and sanity over there 🙏💔. The gov should really do something about the mental health support for these soldiers ASAP!
 
man this is so heartbreaking 🤕 i mean we think about all these young ppl who are willing to give up everything for their countries but nobody really thinks about the toll it takes on them mentally 💔 especially when you're trying to provide basic human needs like warmth and food in such a harsh environment it's just devastating 🌫️ and i feel like we need to do so much more to support these soldiers after they come back from war 🤝 we can't just expect them to be okay and move on with their lives when they've been through something so traumatic 😩
 
🤕 I'm genuinely worried about this kid's mental state...I mean, can you imagine not having basic human needs met and being surrounded by death and destruction all day? It's no wonder he's feeling numb and detached from the world. We need to do more than just talk about supporting soldiers - we need concrete action and resources for them to cope with PTSD and trauma. 🤝
 
🤕 this story is giving me chills man... 21 yrs old soldier, putting his life on the line, and still finding it hard to cope? 🤯 that's just heartbreaking. I feel bad for him, and all those other soldiers out there fighting in silence. Mental health support needs to be a priority, like, ASAP! 💔 we can't just watch from afar and expect them to be okay... they need our help, our voices, our support. 🙏
 
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