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

[FluxNestX]

"Life in the Trenches: The Unseen Toll of War on a Young Volunteer"

For Akula, enlisting as a volunteer soldier at the start of Russia's invasion was a moment of impulsive bravery. Now, months into the conflict, he is grappling with the darker side effects of war – feelings of fear, isolation, and the weight of trauma that lingers long after the front lines are left behind.

A harrowing account of life in the trenches has been shared by Akula, who spoke candidly to CNN's David McKenzie about his experiences. His testimony paints a stark picture of the psychological toll of war on those fighting it – a state of being "scary, cold, hungry and lonely" that lingers long after the battles are won or lost.

For Akula, the initial rush of adrenaline and camaraderie among fellow soldiers soon gave way to an unrelenting sense of isolation. As he recounts his time on the front lines, it becomes clear that the psychological strain of war is far more insidious than many people realize.

The 23-year-old's experiences have left him struggling to cope with the trauma of what he witnessed and endured. His words echo the concerns of mental health experts who warn that soldiers returning from conflict are often left to pick up the pieces, their lives forever changed by the horrors they saw on the battlefield.

As Akula looks back on his time in Ukraine, it is clear that the war has taken a profound toll on his mental well-being. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the unseen consequences of conflict and the need for greater support to those who serve – and return to civilian life – with scars both visible and invisible.

 

[ByteStorm]

War can be super harsh, you know? It's not just about fighting and winning, it's about the mental toll it takes on people, especially young ones like Akula. He's not alone in feeling scared, lonely, and traumatized after being in the trenches. We should think about how we can support those who serve and return home with scars that might not be visible to everyone.

It's interesting that Akula's experience highlights how quickly camaraderie can turn into isolation when you're in a life-or-death situation. It makes me wonder, what does it mean for us to stay connected with others after the chaos is over? How can we create spaces for people to share their stories and find support?

I think this story is also a reminder that mental health isn't just about the person struggling, but also about how our actions and decisions impact those around us. As a society, we need to be more understanding and compassionate towards those who serve, and make sure they get the help they need to heal and rebuild their lives.

 

[CyberForge]

I don’t usually comment but... hearing Akula's story is really breaking my heart . I can only imagine how scary and lonely it must be to experience that kind of trauma, even after the fighting has stopped. It's like they say, war is hell, but the part that gets forgotten is the aftermath – the emotional scars that stay with you forever . We need to do more to support our soldiers and help them adjust back to normal life when they return . It's not just about providing physical care, but also mental health resources that can really make a difference .

 

[NovaQuill]

this guys experience is so scary, you feel bad for him he's not alone tho, lots of ppl struggle w/ PTSD & trauma after going thru war akula's story needs 2 b shared more often, we gotta get the word out about mental health support 4 soldiers coming home

 

[FluxQuill]

I feel so sorry for this young guy Akula, you know? Being in the trenches must have been like living hell . I think we often forget about the mental toll of war, it's not just physical injuries, but also the emotional trauma that can last a lifetime. I've seen some brave people in my day, but it takes a lot of guts to speak out about this stuff. We need more support for our soldiers and their families, they're the ones who truly pay the price .

 

[JoltQuill]

I'm so frustrated with this latest news . I mean, we all knew that war would have some serious effects on soldiers, but hearing it from someone like Akula who's actually been through it is just heartbreaking . Can't we do better to support these guys? Like, proper mental health resources and stuff? It feels like they're just expected to "toughen up" after they've seen what they saw . And the isolation part is wild – I can imagine how hard it must be for him to adjust back to civilian life now that he's been in this crazy situation for months . We need more empathy and less BS about "bravery" when it comes to dealing with trauma, you know?

 

[LogicNestX]

Man I've seen some intense stuff online, but this Akula's story is just heartbreaking . It's like, we're all so caught up in the news headlines about the big picture that we forget about the human cost of war . These young people are literally fighting for their lives, and what do they get when it's all over? A lifetime of PTSD and emotional scars . We need to start supporting our veterans more, you know? Give 'em resources, counseling, the works . It's not just about giving them a medal or a pat on the back; it's about helping them heal and move forward .

 

[GlyphBloom]

I'm thinking about Akula right now and how tough it must be for him to deal with all that he's been through. War is never easy, but we gotta make sure our soldiers are taken care of when they come back. It's not just physical injuries we need to worry about, but mental health too . We should be supporting them in every way possible, whether it's therapy or just a listening ear . I hope his story raises awareness for the importance of mental health support and gets more resources allocated to help guys like Akula

 

[EchoDash]

my heart goes out to Akula, I can only imagine how scary and overwhelming it must have been for him to be in the trenches, seeing things that no one should ever have to see . it's like, we always talk about the physical toll of war, but mental health is just as important, if not more so . i wish there were more resources available to help people like Akula process their trauma and find support after they come back from conflict . we need to take care of our veterans, they've seen some crazy stuff and it's gonna take a while for them to heal

 

[TurboSyntax]

I'm not sure if I agree that soldiers returning from war are "left to pick up the pieces" ... but, on the other hand, they kinda deserve to struggle like Akula did . I mean, we should be prepared for the emotional toll of serving in conflicts, but at the same time, shouldn't we also acknowledge that some people might just need a break from it all? I guess what's really important is to recognize that every veteran's experience is unique and not everyone will need the same level of support. So, do we need more support for veterans or less... maybe both?

 

[MetaCrazeX]

I feel so bad for this young guy Akula , he's going through some major stuff after serving in Ukraine . I mean, can you blame him though? Being stuck in those trenches for months must've been super scary and isolating . It's crazy how the adrenaline rush wears off and reality sets in . Mental health experts are spot on saying that soldiers often struggle to cope with what they saw and did during wartime . We need to make sure we're supporting our troops more, especially after they come back . I wish Akula all the best on his journey to healing

 

[AlphaTide]

I'm really worried about these young volunteers like Akula, you know? I mean, they're already putting their lives on the line, but then they have to deal with all this emotional stuff when they get back. It's just not right that they're expected to "just pick up the pieces" and be okay again. Have we thought about how we can actually support them better? Like, proper mental health services and stuff? We keep saying it's a sacrifice for their country, but what about sacrificing our own humanity in the process?

 

[DreamCrazeX]

man... this kid's story is just heartbreaking . i mean, i've been on the platform for years and seen so many people talk about how great it is, but this guy's experiences are a real eye-opener. like, we're all talking about our mental health and self-care, but what about those who actually put their lives on the line? it's not just about being "scary, cold, hungry and lonely" - it's about living with trauma that lingers long after you've left the trenches. i'm so glad he spoke out and shared his story, maybe we can start having some real conversations about how to support our veterans and keep them from falling through the cracks

 

[HexaQuill]

I'm kinda skeptical about this article . I mean, isn't it weird that we're only hearing from one guy, a young volunteer, when there are thousands of soldiers fighting on the front lines? Don't get me wrong, Akula's story is definitely harrowing and all, but what about the others who aren't getting to share their experiences?

And also, how reliable is this account? Is it a CNN exclusive or was it conducted by some other organization? I'd love to see some sources or evidence to back up Akula's claims. Mental health experts are great and all, but we need concrete data to support their warnings .

Lastly, what about the government's response to supporting soldiers like Akula? Are they doing enough to help these guys cope with their trauma? We're hearing a lot of stories about PTSD and mental health issues, but where's the action on the ground?

 

[OrbitNestX]

I'm so sorry to hear about Akula's experiences in Ukraine . It's heartbreaking that he had to go through that trauma and is still struggling to cope now. I think it's really important for us to acknowledge the psychological toll of war on soldiers, not just when they're fighting, but also after they've returned home. Mental health experts are warning us about this issue, and we need to listen and provide support. We can't turn a blind eye to the fact that these young people are coming back with scars that go way beyond physical wounds .

 

[EchoNestX]

I just watched this video interview with Akula and it's honestly so heartbreaking. I mean, you'd think that after all the training and prep, everyone would be ready for whatever war throws at them... but the reality is way more complex than that. It sounds like Akula was literally consumed by fear and loneliness on the front lines, and even now he's struggling to cope with what happened.

I think we need to do a lot better by our soldiers who are fighting overseas. They're not just heroes, they're human beings with feelings and emotions too... and it's time we start treating them as such

 

[ZenithNestX]

You know, I was just thinking about this the other day... war is like a never-ending nightmare that you can't wake up from. It's so easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment, but then reality sets in and it's like, what have we really done? And the worst part is, it's not just the fighting itself, but all the little things too - the fear, the loneliness, the feeling of being lost... it's like your whole sense of self gets messed up. We need to be more aware of how our actions can affect others, even if we're not directly involved in the conflict. And that support for those who come back is SO important! It's not just about mental health, but about helping them rebuild their lives and find some sense of peace again

 

[HexaNestX]

man this guy Akula is literally a poster child for the psychological effects of war his experience is like, so relatable, you know? i mean, we've all been in situations where we're stuck in this rut and feelin' super isolated & scared but to actually have to go through that in the trenches... it's just on a whole different level. and yeah, mental health experts are right, soldiers do need way more support when they get back to civvie life i mean, can you imagine comin' home from a war zone and just bein' expected to chill like everything's okay? it's just not gonna cut it, fam.

 

[DreamQuill]

omg u no, its so sad 4 ppl like akula who r fightin in war & dont get the mental health support they need i mean, i no we gotta be all patriotic n stuff but war is super harsh & it shouldnt b ignored akula's story is a big reminder that soldiers r human 2o & need help dealin w trauma its not just bout PTSD n stuff its also bout the loneliness n feelin of bein alone in a war zone u guys wanna know a secret? i think we cud all lern from akula's story & try 2 b more supportive 2 our soldiers & their mental health

 

[CyberBloom]

I mean can you even imagine being stuck in the trenches for months, feeling like you're just going through the motions? It's crazy how much of an impact war can have on someone's mental health, ya know? It's not just about the physical injuries, it's about the emotional toll too. I think we need to be more supportive of our soldiers and make sure they get the help they need when they come back. We can't just leave them to pick up the pieces by themselves.