"Can Go Three Days Without Sleep"…The Drink Popular Among Ukrainian Soldiers Revealed

Energy Drinks Popular Among Ukrainian Soldiers
"Keeps Them Marching for Kilometers Despite Lack of Sleep and Food"

As the war between Ukraine and Russia prolongs, energy drinks are reportedly gaining tremendous popularity among Ukrainian soldiers. Some soldiers are said to trade these drinks like currency.

The US media outlet The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 8th (local time) that energy drinks containing large amounts of caffeine and taurine are preferred among Ukrainian soldiers. As the war drags on, preserving soldiers' physical strength and mental stamina has become a top priority, and energy drinks that provide a short-term boost are gaining popularity.

A member of Ukraine's Achilles unit is attaching explosives to a drone.
[Image source=Reuters/Yonhap News]

NYT described the intense "energy drink craze" on the front lines, stating, "Soldiers risking their lives to advance toward the trenches are willing to give up coffee, cola, and even water for energy drinks."

One soldier told the media, "Carrying a full combat load weighing up to 40 kg and walking several kilometers daily, without proper food or sleep for three days and nights, there is no way to endure except with energy drinks." Because of this, energy drinks have come to hold a value almost equivalent to currency.

The drinks favored by Ukrainian soldiers include famous brands like Red Bull and Monster, but the domestic product Volya is also popular. Volya means "will" in Ukrainian and was launched in January last year.

This drink is originally produced by Ukraine's bottled water manufacturer IDS Ukraine, which donated 40,000 cans to soldiers defending their homeland against Russian forces. The Ukrainian branch of Carlsberg, a Danish beer company, also launched the energy drink Battery last year.

NYT reported that while Ukraine's civilian consumption has almost completely collapsed since 2022, the energy drink market has surged by 50%. IDS Ukraine CEO Marko Tkachuk explained to the media, "The demand for caffeine that can be quickly consumed without boiling water or tea bags has increased."