Brazilian fights gambling addiction and enlists in the Ukrainian Army
Thiago Morais da Silva Moita, 35, from Rio de Janeiro, made a drastic choice in his quest to regain control of his life after losing more than R$340,000 in online betting. On Tuesday, July 9, 2026, he left the coast of São Paulo to enlist in the Ukrainian Army, in an attempt to combat gambling addiction, known as ludopathy. Moita’s story gained prominence when he revealed that going to war was his way of escaping a “mental prison” and changing his thinking.
The Personal Battle Against Gambling Addiction
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Before his departure for the conflict zone, Thiago Moita was already facing an intense struggle against gambling disorder. The most critical moment of this journey occurred when he lost R$75,000 in a single day, an experience that led him to seek psychological help. It was during this process that the diagnosis of the condition was confirmed, driving the urgent need for a radical change in her life. Personal and financial disintegration became a catalyst for the unusual decision to volunteer in a wartime setting.
Life before Ukraine and the impact of betting
Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in São Gonçalo, Moita moved to Iguape, on the coast of São Paulo, in 2022, after obtaining custody of his son. In the city of São Paulo, he worked as an app driver and electronics salesman, but the earnings from these activities were systematically consumed by virtual betting platforms. Mental exhaustion and despair reached a point where Thiago’s own father confronted him: “You’ve already bet everything you have, now are you going to bet your life?” This question resonated deeply, solidifying the idea that a completely new environment was needed to break the cycle of addiction.
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Join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine
With a military family background, Thiago Moita decided to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine in March this year. The choice, although shocking to some relatives, represented for him a way of reevaluating the value of money and his own existence. Carrying the “BadBoy” identification stripe, his childhood nickname, the Brazilian immersed himself in an intense routine.
- Missions ranging from a week to 40 days in length.
- Daily 12-hour training sessions.
- Handling weapons, mines, grenades and explosives.
Surviving amid the dangers of war
Moita does not play in the assault teams, which face the front line in direct confrontations with Russian forces. However, the threat of drone and missile attacks is a constant for his troops. Upon his arrival in Ukraine, he experienced the danger of war up close. “Less than a week after I got there, a missile hit my house. A fighter jet passed by and dropped three bombs there,” he reported. On another occasion, he narrowly escaped a fatal bombing that killed dozens of people, including a Brazilian colleague, because he had been transferred out of the region moments before.
The dilemma of the future: return to Brazil or remain in combat
Thiago Moita’s military contract provides for a month of vacation, with his return to Brazil scheduled to take place between November and December this year. After this period of rest, he will face a new crossroads: terminate the agreement with the Armed Forces of Ukraine or extend his service for another three years. Uncertainty about the future persists, but the combat experience has already transformed his perception of life and overcoming addiction.
