A 20-year-old volunteer soldier, Akula, recounts a harrowing account of his experience fighting in Ukraine during the Russian invasion. Since enlisting at the beginning of the conflict, he's been exposed to the harsh realities of war, including prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, hunger, and feelings of loneliness.
"I've seen some terrible things," Akula admits, reflecting on his time on the front lines. The psychological toll of witnessing atrocities has taken a significant impact on his mental well-being. The 20-year-old describes feeling "scary" and "cold" - not just physically, but emotionally as well.
The grueling conditions have left him struggling with feelings of hunger and desperation, which he believes are exacerbated by the isolation that comes with being on the front lines. Despite the sense of camaraderie among fellow soldiers, Akula notes that this doesn't quite fill the void left by the stress and trauma.
Akula's harrowing account highlights the often-overlooked human cost of war. The devastating effects of prolonged exposure to conflict are evident in his words, serving as a poignant reminder of the need for support systems to be put in place for those who find themselves at the front lines.
"I've seen some terrible things," Akula admits, reflecting on his time on the front lines. The psychological toll of witnessing atrocities has taken a significant impact on his mental well-being. The 20-year-old describes feeling "scary" and "cold" - not just physically, but emotionally as well.
The grueling conditions have left him struggling with feelings of hunger and desperation, which he believes are exacerbated by the isolation that comes with being on the front lines. Despite the sense of camaraderie among fellow soldiers, Akula notes that this doesn't quite fill the void left by the stress and trauma.
Akula's harrowing account highlights the often-overlooked human cost of war. The devastating effects of prolonged exposure to conflict are evident in his words, serving as a poignant reminder of the need for support systems to be put in place for those who find themselves at the front lines.
it's crazy to think about these young people like Akula going through this stuff and we're over here thinking he's just fighting for country or whatever... his mental state is literally broken 
hunger, loneliness, stress - it's not exactly the most glamorous thing to deal with. I feel bad looking at these news vids of him and others and seeing how traumatized they are. it makes me wonder if we're doing enough to support our soldiers when they come back from conflict 
but at the same time, it's so inspiring to see him still talking about his experiences and trying to process everything... i guess that takes a lot of courage 
. we need more people like akula speaking out about the human cost of war, ya know? 
. It's like he drew this picture of a person with a broken heart 
and a snowman that's melting because of emotional coldness 
. The way he describes feeling hungry not just for food, but also for human connection, is really haunting. I think we need to draw some circles around these soldiers to make sure they get the support they deserve 
. We can't ignore the fact that war takes a huge toll on people's mental health. We should be like Akula drew this picture of a safe space 
where everyone can feel safe and supported.
it's not just about the physical toll, it's emotional too. we need more support systems in place for ppl like akula who r struggling 2 cope after being thru it all 
. It's like, his country is fighting for something, but at the end of the day, it's just a bunch of people getting hurt or worse 
. We need to make sure these soldiers have proper mental health support when they get back, 'cause war can really mess with your head 
. We need to remember that these soldiers are not just warriors, they're human beings too who deserve our support and care. It's time we put more effort into providing mental health resources and emotional support to those who are serving on the front lines 
.
It's so heartbreaking that he's had to deal with all that trauma and loneliness on top of being physically exhausted 
. We need to make sure our soldiers are taken care of, you feel? They're putting their lives on the line for us, it's the least we can do to support them mentally too 
.
just thinking about what he went through in Ukraine is overwhelming, you know? it's like, we're always talking about the politics and strategy of war, but rarely do we hear from the people who are actually living it 
. it's heartbreaking to see how the psychological toll of witnessing atrocities can affect someone so young - 20 years old! that's like, still so young, you know? it's like, we need to be talking about mental health support for soldiers and veterans, like, pronto 
.
it's insane how war can affect a young person like that, physically and emotionally 
we need to do more to support our soldiers, especially the ones who are dealing with PTSD 
they deserve so much more than just our gratitude 
These soldiers need access to proper mental health services ASAP! 
We can't keep sending them into harm's way without making sure they've got the support they need to get through the tough times. 
. It's time we shift the focus from war efforts to taking care of those who are serving