"A harrowing glimpse into the life of a volunteer soldier fighting in Ukraine was shared by Akula, a young man who signed up for battle at the outbreak of the Russian invasion.
The 25-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted his time on the front lines with unflinching honesty, revealing the brutal realities of war. "Scary," he described the situation as "cold, hungry and lonely", capturing the full depth of his emotional struggle.
Akula had joined the fight at the beginning of Russia's invasion in 2022, believing it was a moral obligation to defend Ukraine against what he saw as an unjust attack. Now, nearly two years later, the trauma of war has taken its toll on his mental health.
In a candid interview with CNN, Akula spoke candidly about his experiences on the front lines, revealing the long hours, endless firefights and emotional isolation that come with being a soldier in conflict zone. The once enthusiastic recruit now expressed feelings of "emptiness" and a deep sense of disconnection from the world around him.
"I've been through hell," Akula said. "I've seen things that no human should ever have to see." His words echo the sentiments of many soldiers who have risked their lives to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression, highlighting the unspoken sacrifices they make in service of a cause they believe in.
The 25-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted his time on the front lines with unflinching honesty, revealing the brutal realities of war. "Scary," he described the situation as "cold, hungry and lonely", capturing the full depth of his emotional struggle.
Akula had joined the fight at the beginning of Russia's invasion in 2022, believing it was a moral obligation to defend Ukraine against what he saw as an unjust attack. Now, nearly two years later, the trauma of war has taken its toll on his mental health.
In a candid interview with CNN, Akula spoke candidly about his experiences on the front lines, revealing the long hours, endless firefights and emotional isolation that come with being a soldier in conflict zone. The once enthusiastic recruit now expressed feelings of "emptiness" and a deep sense of disconnection from the world around him.
"I've been through hell," Akula said. "I've seen things that no human should ever have to see." His words echo the sentiments of many soldiers who have risked their lives to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression, highlighting the unspoken sacrifices they make in service of a cause they believe in.
I'm so done with people romanticizing war and thinking it's all about patriotism and duty. It's not cool when these young dudes get stuck with PTSD and emotional trauma for defending a country that's being invaded. 
Two years is a long time to be fighting, and it's ridiculous how we still don't have better mental health support for our soldiers. It's time for us to start valuing their well-being over their bravery. 
This guy Akula is literally one of 1 million young adults in Ukraine who signed up to fight since 2022 
The mental health stats for soldiers are MIND-BOGGLING: 75% experience PTSD, 60% struggle with depression, and 40% have suicidal thoughts 
. Meanwhile, Ukraine has lost over 100k lives since the invasion 
.
Soldiers in Ukraine use mostly US-made gear due to sanctions, but they still have to deal with maintenance issues, ammo shortages, and faulty communication systems 
. Did you know that the average soldier spends 80% of their time patrolling & waiting for orders? 
Not exactly the heroic 'Saving Private Ryan' stuff 
.
. We often talk about PTSD in the US, but it's a whole different story when it affects someone who's literally fighting on the front lines 
i mean i get that he wanted to help but war is not something you sign up for lightly it sounds like it's really taken a toll on his mental health 
... think about all those who signed up with idealism and now are struggling with PTSD 
Akula's story is so heart breaking, I mean who would've thought being a volunteer soldier could be that harsh? It's like he went from being all pumped up about doing his part for Ukraine to feeling empty and disconnected from the world. I don't think it's an overstatement when people say war can mess with your head, man. Mental health is everything, especially in situations where you're literally fighting for your life 
I feel like we're not getting enough awareness about the mental health toll of war on those serving on the front lines. it's crazy how one minute he was all pumped up to defend Ukraine and the next his mental state just totally tanked 
. Mental health is everything, especially when you're dealing with life or death situations 
. We should all be sending him lots of love and support during this tough time 
.
. It's not weak to ask for help or take a step back, it's actually super strong 
I know we all have our own opinions on the war, but let's not forget about the human cost. We need more people talking about this stuff, sharing their stories so we can better understand what's really going on. It's time for us to listen up and show some support for these soldiers 
.
. And what's with all the volunteer soldiers? They should be focusing on their own countries' problems instead of getting drawn into some other dude's conflict 
. I mean, Ukraine is just a pawn in a bigger game, and we're all just pawns too 
. It's so overrated to defend someone else's freedom when our own isn't being threatened 
i wish him all the best & some serious help tho 
... i mean, can u imagine having to fight in a war for almost two years now? 
... anyways, just wanted to say thanks to akula for being brave enough to share this with us all 