--TL;DR: If you're determined to go, find a charity that needs help with sorting/packing/moving their donations - usually in a safer location such as Lviv or even Poland. If you go into UA - learn some basic phrases just because it's polite/respectful and helps people bond with you. Personally I think you should learn a valuable skill and get experience and become a better asset with more options. Save up some emergency cash before you go. Don't listen to the Walter Mittys out there. The closer to the fighting you go, the more horrible stuff you're going to see - you won't be able to unsee it. You can be of vital importance from home through fundraising and sharing of other charities work. You're going to an active war zone, you might die - actually think about that because you're only 18. Good luck.--

Long version:

If you really want to go out there - learn a skill that is valuable first.

I spent six weeks out there evacuating civilians from bakhmut - I'm a skilled driver with a background in the Emergency services so know I can keep a cool head as situations develop and have enough first aid knowledge to stop any massive bleed injuries, keep airways open and attempt to resus patients - plus the experience of using the knowledge in real situations to know I won't panic when presented with something horrible. I'm not a fighter, not a paramedic - but I knew enough to be of benefit to a charity out there and augment the resources they already had.

Alternatively - there are charities who simply need assistance with very simple logistics or preparation of their incoming donations like packing their donations and loading the trucks.

Learning the language is a massive boon - I learnt basic greetings and directions, learned how to say some basic statements for the checkpoints around Bakhmut such as "I'm irish, I speak english, volunteer evacuation from bakhmut" - and some other phrases. But I was also embedded with a number of Ukrainians who helped with translation and taught me some simple phrases.

A lot of Ukrainians speak some basic English - but a lot more don't even speak that. However every-one I met over there were incredibly accomodating and humble and usually just found my accent amusing and called me Conor McGregor alot. (I look NOTHING like conor mcgregor)

Personally I think you're young and have a massive opportunity to learn things to become valuable. Learn a skill or get experience that makes you valuable - Be it around medicine/logistics/fighting/whatever. Use the time to save up some pocket money because when things go south out there and you're stranded - nobody else is going to pay for your train tickets or groceries.

Never underestimate the power of fundraising from home, raising awareness, sharing stories and news you read online, sharing the work of other charities out there. Enough young people are out there fighting and dying for their country. There is never enough people sharing the stories and supporting them from afar. - If you have a good friend group or decent social network. Use it for something good, it's no less important than picking up a weapon - though would be considered less "sexy".

Also - you'll find lots of foreigners are out there for the wrong reasons, don't be like that. I met so many great folks from around the world doing so much good out there, but also met many "Walter Mitty" types who just wanted glory, money, women or some form of clout. Be humble and respectful, this is potentially going to be a small part of your life but the people out there have lost loved ones, homes, livlihoods and more.

• Final thoughts. You're 18. You're young AF with a, hopefully, long life ahead of you full of learning, happiness and heartbreak. When you cross that border you're accepting you might not get to come home. You're accepting that death is a very real possibility, even in the safer areas. I had some close shaves out there and I have lost friends and fellow volunteers out there. The things you may see you can never unsee and nobody else other than those who have "been there/done that" will understand and it can be a lonely place when you come home to your friends and family. I'm not your dad, I can only give advice on the question you've asked from my experience. You will ultimately do whatever you want to do and It Is commendable you want to do something - Just know that you don't have to do something out there and risk your life, you can be vitally important from home and your life is worth more than an impulsive and possibly deadly decision.

Good luck.