A 19-year-old volunteer soldier from Ukraine recounted his harrowing experiences fighting in the war-torn country, revealing a harrowing tale of isolation, malnutrition, and psychological trauma.
Akula, who enlisted at the start of Russia's invasion, described being "scary, cold, hungry, and lonely" on the front lines. The young soldier shared with CNN reporter David McKenzie his firsthand account of life in the midst of war, where basic human needs were often neglected and mental health was pushed to the limit.
As Akula spoke about his time under fire, it became clear that the psychological toll of combat is just as significant as the physical dangers. With temperatures plummeting and supplies dwindling, soldiers like Akula were forced to confront their own mortality on a daily basis. The lack of sleep, meager rations, and perpetual fear of death took its toll on his mental well-being.
"I've never felt so alone," Akula said in an emotional interview. His words echoed the sentiments of many other soldiers who have found themselves at the forefront of this devastating conflict.
The trauma experienced by young soldiers like Akula raises important questions about the long-term effects of war on the human psyche. As the conflict drags on, many are left to pick up the pieces and deal with the emotional scars that will likely take years – if not a lifetime – to heal.
Akula's harrowing account is a stark reminder of the human cost of war, where even the bravest among us can be pushed to their limits by the unforgiving nature of conflict.
Akula, who enlisted at the start of Russia's invasion, described being "scary, cold, hungry, and lonely" on the front lines. The young soldier shared with CNN reporter David McKenzie his firsthand account of life in the midst of war, where basic human needs were often neglected and mental health was pushed to the limit.
As Akula spoke about his time under fire, it became clear that the psychological toll of combat is just as significant as the physical dangers. With temperatures plummeting and supplies dwindling, soldiers like Akula were forced to confront their own mortality on a daily basis. The lack of sleep, meager rations, and perpetual fear of death took its toll on his mental well-being.
"I've never felt so alone," Akula said in an emotional interview. His words echoed the sentiments of many other soldiers who have found themselves at the forefront of this devastating conflict.
The trauma experienced by young soldiers like Akula raises important questions about the long-term effects of war on the human psyche. As the conflict drags on, many are left to pick up the pieces and deal with the emotional scars that will likely take years – if not a lifetime – to heal.
Akula's harrowing account is a stark reminder of the human cost of war, where even the bravest among us can be pushed to their limits by the unforgiving nature of conflict.
this is so heartbreaking what kind of world are we living in where young people have to go through such trauma? I mean, I'm all for supporting our troops and being grateful for their sacrifices, but come on, can't we find a way to prevent wars from happening in the first place? 
Anyway, I just want to say that I'm totally teaming up with an organization that's working to provide mental health support to veterans like Akula 
maybe we can all do our part to help them heal and rebuild their lives 
I'm so sorry to hear that Akula went through all that. It's heartbreaking to think about how young he was when he enlisted and had to face such unimaginable horrors. His story is a harsh reminder of the human cost of war, where even the bravest soldiers can be pushed to their limits by the psychological toll of combat. 
it's a harsh reminder that war doesn't discriminate between old and young, rich and poor, everyone gets affected in different ways 
I feel so bad for this young soldier, Akula... 19 years old, already going through all that trauma 
. It shows us that even in the darkest of times, there are always people willing to speak out and raise awareness about the importance of mental health and support for our soldiers 
. We gotta keep spreading love and kindness, not just talk about it 
.
that must've been so tough for him, being so young and having to go through all that 
. The thought that our soldiers are stuck on the front lines with no sleep, not enough food, and always scared is just heartbreaking 
. It makes me think about all the times I've had a bad day at work or at home and people like Akula have to deal with actual danger every single day 
. We need to make sure they get the help they need after this war ends 
...
the whole 'scary, cold, hungry, and lonely' vibe is straight out of a war movie, minus the heroic soundtrack 
. seriously though, how do people even cope with that kind of psychological trauma? 
and then theres the psychological trauma thing, its like how r we even gonna help these ppl recover from this? 
.
it's crazy to think about these young soldiers, like Akula, who are literally fighting for their lives out there in Ukraine 
. It's like, we think we know what war is all about, but really, it's so much more than just guns and bombs 
. It's the human side of things, you know? The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty... it's just a lot to deal with