'Don't come here', warns Brazilian fighting in the war in Ukraine Brazilian Thiago Morais da Silva Moita, who left the coast of São Paulo to serve in the Ukrainian Army after losing R$340,000 in online betting, issued a warning given the repercussions of his own story. He stated that war is "not a solution" for fighting addictions or earning money and highlighted his desire to return home. "I don't want to be motivation for people (without training) to come to war. This is not the solution for you," he said. "If I could leave right now, right now, I certainly would, but I can't. I don't want to take part in the war anymore." To g1, Moita explained that the contract with the Ukrainian Army lasts for three years. However, he can only request termination after completing six months of service. He is awaiting dismissal, which still depends on the approval of the battalion to which he is attached. ? Click here to follow the new g1 Santos channel on WhatsApp. Resident of Iguape (SP), the 35-year-old Brazilian said he made the decision to enlist "without thinking" and, although participating in the war helped him overcome his gambling disorder, addicted people should seek help from a specialized professional. ? Ludopathy is addiction to gambling and betting. Classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a mental disorder, it affects the brain reward system. Thiago Morais da Silva Moita, 35 years old, fights in the war in Ukraine Reproduction/Instagram Outburst in the early hours In a report recorded during the early hours of the morning in Ukraine, Moita said that he was surprised by the repercussion of his own story and that he received hundreds of messages from people without military training, who are facing gambling addiction and are thinking about following the same path. "'Looking back, I feel sorry for myself. I don't want this for anyone. We need to find another way to get out of this. My way was to come here, but now that I'm here... I could die at any moment. I'm here, but at any moment a bomb could fall," he said. Moita stated that he cured his addiction during the war and has not gambled since January this year. However, he highlighted the need for professional support. "Seek a psychologist and have a 'financial nanny'. Leave your accounts with someone you feel confident in. But, honestly, from the bottom of my heart, here is no solution for you to overcome gaming addictions", he concluded. Life before the war Thiago Moita, 35, left Iguape and enlisted in the Ukrainian Army to combat his addiction to virtual betting. Personal archive Born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Moita grew up in the municipality of São Gonçalo (RJ). In 2022, he moved to Iguape, on the coast of São Paulo, after obtaining custody of his son. In the new city, the Brazilian started working in electronics sales and as an app driver. However, all the money earned through services ended up being consumed by addiction to virtual betting platforms. Addiction The apex of the disorder occurred when Moita lost R$75,000 in a single day. The decision to change his life path came after a psychologist revealed that he showed signs of gambling disorder. "I was destroying myself. I thought: 'I need to get out of here, I need to change'. My father told me: 'You've already bet everything you have, now are you going to bet your life?'", reported the combatant. To try to curb his spending, he even asked his father to confiscate his cell phone. The decision and routine With a family made up of military personnel, Moita decided to join the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine in March this year. The attitude was not well received by his relatives, but he stated that the challenge changed his perception of money. In his uniform, the Brazilian carries an identification card with the nickname "BadBoy", a name he used with a group of friends when he was growing up in São Gonçalo. The routine in the country includes missions that last from a week to 40 days and daily 12-hour training sessions for handling weapons, mines and explosives.