War Takes Toll: Volunteer Soldier Describes Traumatic Experience on Front Line
In a harrowing account, Akula, a young volunteer soldier who joined the fight against Russia's invasion at the start of the conflict, is now grappling with the devastating effects of war on his mental health. Speaking exclusively to CNN's David McKenzie, Akula recounted his time on the front lines, painting a vivid picture of the horrors he witnessed.
The 24-year-old recounts feeling scared, cold, hungry and utterly alone as he braved the unforgiving Russian winter. "It was a very scary place," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "You're not just fighting for your country; you're fighting for your life."
As Akula recounted his experiences on camera, it became clear that the psychological toll of war far outweighs the physical risks. Despite being in a combat zone for months, Akula's unit was woefully understaffed and underprepared, leaving them vulnerable to Russian attacks.
"It was always cold," he explained. "You had to put on extra layers just to stay warm. Sometimes you'd get a fire going, but even that was a struggle." The constant hunger pangs were another constant companion, made worse by the logistical challenges of resupplying troops in a war zone.
As for loneliness, Akula's words conveyed the deep sense of isolation that can come with being a soldier on the front lines. "You're away from family and friends for months," he said. "It gets to you, especially when you start thinking about the people who are waiting for you back home."
The emotional weight of his experiences has left Akula struggling with PTSD, and he is now seeking help and support as he readjusts to civilian life. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, and the lasting impact it can have on those who fight in it.
"I just want to be able to sleep at night without thinking about what happened," Akula said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I just want to be able to feel normal again."
In a harrowing account, Akula, a young volunteer soldier who joined the fight against Russia's invasion at the start of the conflict, is now grappling with the devastating effects of war on his mental health. Speaking exclusively to CNN's David McKenzie, Akula recounted his time on the front lines, painting a vivid picture of the horrors he witnessed.
The 24-year-old recounts feeling scared, cold, hungry and utterly alone as he braved the unforgiving Russian winter. "It was a very scary place," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "You're not just fighting for your country; you're fighting for your life."
As Akula recounted his experiences on camera, it became clear that the psychological toll of war far outweighs the physical risks. Despite being in a combat zone for months, Akula's unit was woefully understaffed and underprepared, leaving them vulnerable to Russian attacks.
"It was always cold," he explained. "You had to put on extra layers just to stay warm. Sometimes you'd get a fire going, but even that was a struggle." The constant hunger pangs were another constant companion, made worse by the logistical challenges of resupplying troops in a war zone.
As for loneliness, Akula's words conveyed the deep sense of isolation that can come with being a soldier on the front lines. "You're away from family and friends for months," he said. "It gets to you, especially when you start thinking about the people who are waiting for you back home."
The emotional weight of his experiences has left Akula struggling with PTSD, and he is now seeking help and support as he readjusts to civilian life. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, and the lasting impact it can have on those who fight in it.
"I just want to be able to sleep at night without thinking about what happened," Akula said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I just want to be able to feel normal again."
watching ppl put their lives on the line 4 their country & still get left behind 2 deal w/ ptsd 
its not just about physical harm, its about being human in a war zone 
u can't prepare 4 the emotional toll, but u gotta be strong enough 2 face it 
i mean i get it war is bad but this young volunteer soldier is going through so much emotional trauma his mental health is literally paying the price he's talking about feeling scared, cold, hungry and alone all the time and now he's dealing with PTSD which is super common after experiencing traumatic events like that 
. I mean, war is war, and if you're gonna get hurt, so what? You sign up for the risks, right? It's not like anyone asked Akula if he was ready to deal with PTSD when he joined the military 
. And another thing, if he couldn't handle the cold and hunger, maybe he shouldn't have been out there in the first place 
. I'm not saying it doesn't sound tough or anything, but come on, it's just a minor inconvenience compared to what those Russian soldiers are going through 
.
and to make matters worse, he was understaffed and underprepared in combat, so that's just another layer of stress to deal with
It's just not right that they're having to deal with PTSD and all that.
It's a total mess. But I guess that's just the way things go when there's war involved.
. We need more stories like this to shine a light on the human cost of conflict, you know? 
This guy's story is literally giving me chills... I mean, can you even imagine being on the front lines for months without getting any decent sleep or a proper meal? 
And then to deal with PTSD afterwards? It's like his body and mind are still in combat mode 
. I mean, can you even imagine being scared all the time? 
. And PTSD? 
Yeah, that's not fun at all 
. He just wants to feel normal again... 
. We gotta support these guys when they come back 
. The fact that he's now dealing with PTSD is not surprising, but it's still devastating to think about his journey back to normal life 
.
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we appreciate your service, but good luck trying to adjust to civilian life when you're still carrying around all these traumatic memories" 
. We need to think about the long-term effects of war on our soldiers and their families, not just leave them to deal with PTSD when they come back 
