Akula, a young Ukrainian volunteer soldier, has been grappling with the traumatic experiences of war ever since he answered the call to arms when Russia invaded his country. In an interview with international news outlets, he shared harrowing insights into the psychological toll war takes, describing his days on the front lines as a cascade of fear, bone-chilling cold, gnawing hunger, and soul-crushing loneliness.

The constant threat of death, the relentless physical hardship, and the agonizing isolation, Akula revealed, have left deep psychological scars that are challenging to confront. They are the invisible wounds of war that linger far longer than the physical bruises and burns. He spoke particularly about the pervasive sense of fear that dominated his experience, the constant anxiety of being under constant threat from hostile forces. Surviving the relentless shelling, witnessing the destruction of his homeland, and losing friends in combat has driven home the reality that life can be brutally taken away, leaving an indelible mark on his psyche. "The fear is never truly gone, it's always there, lurking in the background," he said.

Akula highlighted the profound loneliness of the battlefield, where camaraderie can't fully compensate for the absence of family and home. It's the yearning for a hug, a familiar voice, a warm meal, and the simple comfort of normalcy that gnaws at him. It's this loneliness, coupled with the constant trauma of witnessing death and destruction, that has taken a toll on his mental health. Recognizing the severity of the impact, Akula sought support through local mental health organizations. He has discovered that mental health resources for soldiers on the front lines have often been neglected, leaving combatants like him in the shadows without the support they direly need.

The mental health of soldiers and those deeply affected by wartime is often overlooked in narratives celebrating battlefield victories and brave maneuvers. Akula's story is a reminder that the human cost of war is not just physical, but psychological, and that it's critical to acknowledge and address the invisible wounds left behind.