Eyewitnesses Describe Trauma of War: A Young Volunteer Soldier Shares His Frontline Experience
A young Ukrainian volunteer soldier, Akula, who enlisted at the onset of Russia's invasion, is now grappling with the psychological toll of combat. In an intimate interview with CNN journalist David McKenzie, Akula recounted his harrowing experiences on the front lines and the devastating impact it has had on his mental well-being.
Akula's account paints a stark picture of war's brutal reality – one that is often hidden from public view. The 20-year-old soldier described being exposed to harsh temperatures, enduring hunger, and suffering loneliness on an almost daily basis. His time in combat was marked by constant fear and anxiety, which he claims has left him with lingering psychological scars.
"The moments before a battle are the scariest," Akula revealed. "The anticipation of what's to come is suffocating, making it impossible to think clearly or sleep at night."
The prolonged exposure to these conditions took its toll on his mental health, leaving him struggling to cope with the trauma he experienced during the war. "I've seen and done things I never thought possible," Akula said candidly. "It's hard to put into words, but it feels like a part of me has been lost."
Akula's story serves as a poignant reminder of the long-term effects of combat on individuals and their families. As Ukraine continues to battle Russian forces, many young volunteers like Akula are left to grapple with the aftermath of their time on the front lines.
"I don't feel like myself anymore," Akula admitted, his voice trembling with emotion. "I wish I could turn back the clock and leave it all behind, but I know that's impossible."
As the world watches Ukraine's conflict unfold, Akula's account serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war – one that demands to be heard and acknowledged.
A young Ukrainian volunteer soldier, Akula, who enlisted at the onset of Russia's invasion, is now grappling with the psychological toll of combat. In an intimate interview with CNN journalist David McKenzie, Akula recounted his harrowing experiences on the front lines and the devastating impact it has had on his mental well-being.
Akula's account paints a stark picture of war's brutal reality – one that is often hidden from public view. The 20-year-old soldier described being exposed to harsh temperatures, enduring hunger, and suffering loneliness on an almost daily basis. His time in combat was marked by constant fear and anxiety, which he claims has left him with lingering psychological scars.
"The moments before a battle are the scariest," Akula revealed. "The anticipation of what's to come is suffocating, making it impossible to think clearly or sleep at night."
The prolonged exposure to these conditions took its toll on his mental health, leaving him struggling to cope with the trauma he experienced during the war. "I've seen and done things I never thought possible," Akula said candidly. "It's hard to put into words, but it feels like a part of me has been lost."
Akula's story serves as a poignant reminder of the long-term effects of combat on individuals and their families. As Ukraine continues to battle Russian forces, many young volunteers like Akula are left to grapple with the aftermath of their time on the front lines.
"I don't feel like myself anymore," Akula admitted, his voice trembling with emotion. "I wish I could turn back the clock and leave it all behind, but I know that's impossible."
As the world watches Ukraine's conflict unfold, Akula's account serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war – one that demands to be heard and acknowledged.
20 yrs old shouldnt have to deal with all this trauma he was literally just trying to do his civic duty & now hes struggling to cope w/ it 
i feel bad for him, like totally heartbreaking that hes struggling to find himself again after experiencing so much 
the world needs more people like Akula who are willing to serve their country, but also needs 2 be more supportive of these soldiers after they come back 
20 yrs old and still dealing with the trauma from being in combat 
it's like, we think we know what war does to ppl, but till you live it, you don't really get it 
and honestly, i'm not sure how ppl can even begin to rebuild themselves after experiencing all that pain and fear 
it's like, russia invaded ukraine & everythin just got real messy 
and the media dont always show us the real side of war, u know? 
u cant just watch from afar or make assumptions about war, u gotta know the human side of it 
we should all be sendin love & care packages, not just money 
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. The US Department of Veterans Affairs reports a 30% decrease in veterans' PTSD symptoms after participating in therapy programs 
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. It's estimated that 1 in 10 civilians are affected by conflict 
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. Let's make sure we're supporting our soldiers and their families, rather than just reading about it in the headlines 
what really gets me is when ppl say 'we're strong' or 'it's all for our country'... no one wants to talk about the mental health struggles that come with it 
war is a never ending cycle of fear anxiety & loneliness & it's affecting their mental wellbing big time 
. We need to take care of each other, not just stick our heads in our screens and hope someone else fixes the problem 
u guys can't even get a decent video format on this platform anymore... 1080p is outdated lol. anywho, reading about akula's experience had me really somber 
. i feel bad for this kid, really. his story is a reminder that war isn't just about bullets and tanks, but also about the human cost 
. maybe we should focus on supporting these guys instead of just watching from afar 
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I don't think it's fair to say that being in combat is traumatic or that you lose part of yourself. It sounds like he's just trying to cope with some crazy stuff happening to him, you know? 
Like, yeah, the anticipation before a battle can be super intense, but I'm sure he's handling it pretty well considering what he's been through. 
we need 2 support these soldiers & their families more ppl need 2 know about the long-term effects of combat on mental health 
he spoke so openly about how scared he was before battles and how hard it is to sleep at night 
and honestly it makes me so sad that a part of him feels lost 