Demons of War

A Polish IFOR unit detains three foreign mercenaries in Srebrenica who are about to be executed by a Bosnian mob. The mercenaries are released after this intervention, demonstrating the unit’s willingness to intervene in volatile local affairs. This event foreshadows the fragile peacekeeping environment the unit operates within.

Soon after the mercenary incident, Major Edward 'Edek' Keller comes under formal scrutiny for insubordination and clashes with Bosnian militias and foreign fighters. The inquiry accompanies Poland’s delicate push to join NATO, adding political pressure to the proceedings. Keller remains in command until the schedule change later that month.

Lieutenant Czacki and Major Kusz arrive to take over command of the battalion on 1 March. Their arrival marks a formal transition as the investigation continues. Keller remains in command until his commission ends, despite the pending replacement.

The unit receives a distress call about a downed Norwegian helicopter and prepares for a search and rescue mission. Keller disobeys a direct IFOR order and proceeds with the operation against orders. The decision elevates tension between field initiative and chain-of-command.

Keller's team locates the helicopter and finds the crew dead, prompting them to pursue the Bosnian militia responsible for the attack. The mission shifts from rescue to counter-insurgency as they track the aggressors. The pursuit tests the unit's resolve and discipline.

The Bosnian militia detains two captives, Nicol the French journalist and Dano Ivanov, a Bosnian press representative. Keller’s unit learns of the captives and plans their extraction while navigating the hostile environment. The hostage situation raises the stakes for the rescue operation.

Keller uses stealth to kill a militiaman and frees Nicol and Ivanov. The unit then moves toward a helicopter extraction, hoping to avoid a renewed pursuit. The rescue demonstrates Keller’s willingness to take bold, risky action.

During the extraction, the unit's helicopter is shot down and the Polish soldiers are ambushed. Several men are wounded as they fight to repel the attackers and survive the extraction attempt. The encounter reinforces the brutality of street warfare around peacekeeping lines.

The unit camps at a farm where they learn Ivanov possesses a videotape the militia wants. Nicol explains that the tape allegedly shows a mass execution ordered by the Bosnian Prime Minister. The discovery intensifies the political stakes of the mission.

In the night, Ivanov kills one of Keller's soldiers and escapes, forcing the unit to pursue him toward their base. They are ambushed again on the march, signaling that the militia is closing in. The pursuit underscores the persistent danger despite their aim to protect civilians.

After a tense confrontation, it is revealed that the videotape is not the mass-execution footage but a Polish pornography tape. The unit retrieves the tape, but its political leverage remains a weapon in the conflict. This twist adds irony to the unit’s dangerous mission.

Keller confronts Skija, the militia leader, in a village set ablaze. Kusz saves Keller in the fight, and Skija is killed. The confrontation exposes bribery schemes surrounding Ivanov and the tape. The action sequence underscores the war’s chaotic nature.

Back at base, Keller is relieved of command and Kusz takes control of the battalion. Keller passes the tape to Nicol, ensuring the journalist departs with sensitive material. The unit bears the emotional cost of war, highlighted by coffins carried on the approach to returning home.

Keller boards a plane back to Poland, surrounded by coffins of fallen comrades. The final shot emphasizes the heavy cost of peacekeeping and the toll of war on the soldiers who survived. The credits-level close shows the personal sacrifice behind the mission.