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

A chilling account from a young Ukrainian volunteer soldier, Akula, paints a haunting picture of life on the front lines during the Russian invasion. With temperatures plummeting and supplies dwindling, the psychological toll of war weighs heavily on his mind.

Akula, who enlisted at the onset of Russia's invasion, recounts the intense physical and emotional strain he has endured in recent months. "Scary," "cold," "hungry" and "lonely" are just a few words that describe the harsh reality he faced, where survival depended on individual effort.

As he reflects on his time serving, Akula candidly shares how his experiences have taken a profound impact on his mental health. The isolation, coupled with constant exposure to danger, has left him grappling with trauma and an uncertain future. His story highlights the urgent need for support systems to be put in place for those who are fighting on the front lines, many of whom are struggling to cope with the aftermath of their experiences.

Akula's testimony underscores the human cost of conflict, where individuals become pawns in a much larger game, and the long-term effects can be devastating. His words serve as a stark reminder that even in the midst of war, the importance of mental well-being cannot be overlooked.
 
💔 I'm really worried about these volunteer soldiers like Akula 🤕. It's crazy how people just drop everything to help others, and then they have to deal with the trauma afterwards 😩. Mental health support is super important, but it feels like it's often an afterthought in all this chaos 🙅‍♂️. Can't we find a way to provide better resources for them? Like, emotional support, counseling, stuff like that 🤝. It's not just about the physical toll of war, it's also mental health 💡. We should be focusing on helping these guys recover, not just sending aid packages 📦.
 
omg this guy akula is literally shaking me to my core his story is so haunting i mean we're talking freezing temps and not being able to get supplies, its like no wonder he's struggling with mental health 🤕🏥 and it makes total sense that he's experiencing trauma i feel like we should be doing more to support soldiers coming back from the front lines they need help ASAP 💡 this war is not just about politics or geography, its about people's lives and well-being ❤️
 
Its really heartbreaking to read about Akula's experiences 🤕. The psychological toll of war is so often forgotten in all the media attention and politics... people on the front lines are just trying to survive day by day, but it sounds like its taking a huge mental health hit 😔. I think its amazing that he's speaking out about it, it really brings home the human cost of conflict 💔. We need to make sure we're supporting our troops and helping them deal with what they've been through 🤝.
 
can't believe we're still having to talk about this mess 🤯 war is literally draining people's sanity and it's so sad no one wants to acknowledge how messed up it all is . meanwhile these soldiers are over here freezing their butts off and struggling to survive, with no support system in sight 💔 mental health matters need to be taken seriously, like, ASAP. it's not just about bullets and bombs, it's about human lives that get shattered in the process 🤕
 
can't believe ppl are always thinkin about the physical toll of war but what about their minds 💔❄️? these soldiers r puttin through hell & no one's talkin about it 🤷‍♂️ like akula's story is a harsh reminder that we need 2 do better 4 mental health support on the front lines ❤️🚨
 
man this kid Akula is literally putting it all on the line over there 🤯 and we should really be doing more to support him and others like him 😔 i mean, 99% of ppl think about their own survival but these volunteers are out there risking life & limb every day... it's not just about them though, it's about the toll war takes on everyone involved 🌫️ they're talking about mental health but we should be doing way more to prevent this kind of trauma in the first place 💔
 
OMG, this is so sad 🤕... I mean, can you even imagine having to deal with all that on top of fighting for your country? The poor guy must be going through so much emotional turmoil, it's heartbreaking 💔. I feel like we need to do more to support these brave soldiers and make sure they have the resources they need to cope with what they're going through 🤝. Mental health is just as important as physical health, you know? We gotta look out for each other 💕. And can we also talk about how we can prevent wars from happening in the first place? It's always better to try to find peace and understanding rather than violence, right? 💖
 
I'm literally shakin' my head reading this 🤕... it's just so heartbreaking to think about what Akula and others are goin' through 💔. The fact that they're not gettin' the support they need is just a huge concern for me, you know? Like, we gotta start takin' care of these people who are sacrificin' so much for their country ❤️. Their mental health should be our top priority! 🤗 We can't just sit back and watch 'em struggle with trauma and all that... we need to step up and offer a hand (or a listening ear, I guess 😉).
 
🤕 This dude Akula's story is giving me serious The Revenant vibes 🎥, you know? The whole survival thing and being alone with no end in sight... it's like he's stuck in a real-life Hunger Games 🏹. I mean, can't we just get him some proper support and care over there? Like, mental health services, not just a warm meal every now and then 🍔. This is what war does to people, fam. It breaks you down, physically and emotionally... it's like, no wonder he's struggling to cope with trauma 🤯. We need more stories like Akula's to bring attention to this stuff, you feel?
 
This is so messed up 🤕, 1 year into this invasion and people are still struggling to cope? Mental health support systems need to be implemented ASAP ⏰. These soldiers are putting their lives on the line for their country and then we just leave them to deal with the trauma all by themselves? Not okay 😔.
 
War is literally breaking people, not just bodies 💔. We need to get our priorities straight & support these soldiers ASAP 🚨💕. It's time we stop talking about it & start doing something about it 🙏💪
 
Ugh, can't believe how dramatic this guy's story is 🙄. I mean, I get it, war is super tough and all that jazz, but like, come on, "haunting picture" and "profound impact" are so overused 😴. And what's with the lack of details about his actual experience? Like, did he see any Russian soldiers up close or was it just a bunch of artillery fire from afar? Not saying I'm not sympathetic to his plight, but can we get some substance here instead of just emotional mugging 🤷‍♂️. And btw, 15 seconds of video footage and suddenly everyone's an expert on trauma and mental health? Get real, folks 🙄.
 
I'm still trying to process how young people like Akula are being sent to fight in wars that feel more like someone else's problem 🤯. I mean, can't we find better ways to support our heroes than leaving them to fend for themselves on the front lines? 💔 It's not just about supplies or shelter, it's about actual human connection and a safety net when they come back 🌟. We need to do better by these kids, who are already going through hell in their own right 🔥.
 
💔 this is so heartbreaking, you can't even imagine what it's like to be on the front lines for months on end with no clear end in sight... 200 degrees below zero and still they have to go out there every day? 🥶 Akula's story is a wake-up call for us all, we need to make sure our soldiers are taken care of, both physically and mentally. It's not just about the guns and bombs, it's about the human cost of war... 😕
 
I'm literally shivering thinking about what this kid is going thru 😂💔 Akula's story is just so heartbreaking, it's like he's still fighting battles he shouldn't have to fight at his age 🤯 His experiences are a harsh reminder of the human cost of war and how we need to step up our support for these brave young people 💕 They're not just fighting for their country, they're fighting for their mental health too 😩 We gotta do better to help them cope with the trauma they're going thru 🤝
 
its so heartbreaking to think about akula's experience, you know? like, we're always talking about the politics of war and the economy of conflict, but sometimes it's the little guys on the front lines who are really getting hurt 🤕. i mean, can't we do more to support these volunteers and make sure they have access to the resources they need to cope with what they're going through? mental health is just as important as physical health, you know? we need to start taking care of our soldiers' minds so they don't get lost in the chaos of war 💔.
 
Man, it's heartbreaking to think about what these young soldiers are going through... I mean, we're talking freezing temps, no supplies, and total isolation - it's like they're on their own out there. The fact that he's sharing his story is super brave, but at the same time, it's just a reminder of how messed up this whole situation is 🤕. We need to make sure these kids are getting the support they need when they get back, 'cause the psychological toll can be so severe... I don't know, man, it's like we're seeing a whole different side of war here 👎.
 
Man, this story is giving me chills 😱. I mean, can you imagine being on the front lines for months with no end in sight? The psychological toll must be insane 🤯. It's like, we're talking about a war that's been going on for years now, and people are still over there fighting for their lives 🌟. We need to make sure these guys get the support they need, you know? Like, proper therapy, counseling, the works 💆‍♂️. It's not just about them, it's about us too, you feel me? We can't just forget about the people who are putting their lives on the line for our freedom 🤝.
 
OMG, this is soooo sad 🤕🌹. I just think about all those young people over there fighting for their country and it gives me chills 💀. I remember when I was watching all these news about Iraq War and Afghanistan War, it was like my parents were saying "don't worry, we're doing everything to keep you safe" 🙏 but honestly, war is super scary 😱 and the mental health aspect is just not being talked enough 🤐. Like, can't we just talk about this stuff instead of keeping quiet? 🤷‍♀️ I feel for Akula and all those other soldiers over there who are going through so much 💔. We should be doing more to support them, you know? 🙏
 
Back
Top