A British volunteer soldier, Akula, recounts the harrowing reality he faced during the early stages of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, revealing the toll that prolonged exposure to combat has taken on his mental well-being.
Akula's account is one of desperation and despair as he describes a landscape of fear, isolation, and suffering. The young man, who enlisted at the onset of the conflict, found himself facing unimaginable conditions - temperatures plummeting, food running low, and feelings of loneliness suffocating him.
The weight of his experiences is evident in every word, as Akula paints a vivid picture of life on the front lines. With each passing day, he struggled to cope with the psychological strain of witnessing violence up close, and the camaraderie that once bound him to his fellow soldiers began to fray under the relentless pressure.
Akula's story serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of war, where the boundaries between soldier and civilian are constantly blurred. His experiences highlight the devastating effects of prolonged exposure to trauma, leaving survivors grappling with long-lasting emotional scars that can be difficult to overcome.
"I'm scared all the time," Akula confides in an exclusive interview with CNN, his words a testament to the lasting impact of war on the human psyche. "The cold is real, and the hunger was unbearable at times. But it's the loneliness that gets to you β knowing you're out here fighting for something that feels so far away from home."
Akula's story serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who choose to serve, and the importance of providing support to those who have borne witness to unimaginable horrors.
Akula's account is one of desperation and despair as he describes a landscape of fear, isolation, and suffering. The young man, who enlisted at the onset of the conflict, found himself facing unimaginable conditions - temperatures plummeting, food running low, and feelings of loneliness suffocating him.
The weight of his experiences is evident in every word, as Akula paints a vivid picture of life on the front lines. With each passing day, he struggled to cope with the psychological strain of witnessing violence up close, and the camaraderie that once bound him to his fellow soldiers began to fray under the relentless pressure.
Akula's story serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of war, where the boundaries between soldier and civilian are constantly blurred. His experiences highlight the devastating effects of prolonged exposure to trauma, leaving survivors grappling with long-lasting emotional scars that can be difficult to overcome.
"I'm scared all the time," Akula confides in an exclusive interview with CNN, his words a testament to the lasting impact of war on the human psyche. "The cold is real, and the hunger was unbearable at times. But it's the loneliness that gets to you β knowing you're out here fighting for something that feels so far away from home."
Akula's story serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who choose to serve, and the importance of providing support to those who have borne witness to unimaginable horrors.