Brazilian loses R$340,000 on bets and enlists in the Ukrainian war to overcome addiction "A person needs to survive to get paid", says Brazilian Thiago Morais da Silva Moita, 35, who left the coast of São Paulo to enlist in the Ukrainian Army and fight in the war against Russia after losing R$340,000 in online betting. To g1, the resident of Iguape (SP) said that he works in the city of Dnipro and lives with the risk of dying in combat. Moita stated that, despite the attacks he suffered during the war, life in the army helped him overcome his gambling disorder. ? Ludopathy is addiction to gambling and betting. Classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a mental disorder, it affects the brain reward system. ? Click here to follow the new g1 Santos channel on WhatsApp. Moita, who worked in Brazil as an event producer, said that he is paid for his services as a combatant in the Ukrainian Army. His perception about money, however, changed after going to the conflict in Ukraine. The Brazilian explained that the values ??vary. According to him, an increase was recently announced for soldiers on the front line, reaching up to 400 thousand hryvnia per month [approximately R$46.4 thousand]. Despite the values, he warned about the risk faced daily. "If it's for the salary, you can make money in Brazil. Here it's playing with death", he added. Thiago Morais da Silva Moita, 35 years old, fights in the war in Ukraine Reproduction/Instagram The military contract provides for a month of vacation. As a result, Moita is scheduled to return to Brazil between November and December this year. After this rest period, the Brazilian will need to make a new decision: terminate the agreement with the Armed Forces or serve the next three years representing the Ukrainian Army. “I don’t know what will happen from now on,” he said. Attacks As soon as he arrived in the country, he survived a direct attack against the base where he was stationed. "Less than a week after I got there, a missile hit my house. A fighter jet passed by and dropped three bombs there," he said. On another occasion, he escaped a fatal bombing that left dozens dead and killed a Brazilian colleague, as he had been transferred out of the region in time. "If I hadn't been transferred in time, I would be dead now," he reported. Thiago Moita, 35 years old, enlisted in the Ukrainian Army to combat his addiction to virtual betting. Social networks Life before the war 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 virtual betting platforms. Addiction Thiago Moita, 35, left Iguape and enlisted in the Ukrainian Army to combat his addiction to virtual betting. Personal archive The apex of the trouble 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 you're 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 military family, Moita decided to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine in March this year. The attitude was not well received by his relatives, but he stated that the challenge changed his perception about money. On his uniform, the Brazilian carries an identification strip with the nickname "BadBoy", the 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 in handling weapons, mines and explosives. Thiago Moita, 35 years old, enlisted in the Ukrainian Army to combat his addiction to virtual betting. Social networks VIDEOS: g1 in 1 minute Santos