Traces I Can't See

– Information about the death of my colleagues affected me strongly. I asked myself why I was the only survivor. It was hard for me to accept... I think about them a lot. I owe them that," Emil recalls. Despite the large pain he did not give up. Even in a infirmary in Germany, he began a fight for recovery. He even got the nickname "Rambo" from doctors working there. They could not come out of amazement that a soldier who miraculously avoided death, so fiercely and with large success, is rehabilitating.

After a tedious and hard fight – in which his wife, household and army colleagues supported him – he was ready to return to his service a year after the accident. “I have always been accompanied by the belief that since I have survived, I must someway repay this debt of gratitude, do something good. Not for himself, but for the boys who died, and all another soldiers," he says. Although the military committee ruled that the consequence of the accident was an 80 percent wellness damage, it did not decide to hang up the uniform in the closet.

He is the first Polish soldier to receive the wellness category ‘capable of restrictions’. He remained in service in the 18th Bielski Airborne Battalion, as a soldier with a Z/O category he besides graduated from a junior advanced school. active in activity Wounded and Damaged Associations in Missions Outside Country Borders and worked for Polish veterans. presently serving in Veteran Centre for Activities outside the State Borders.

When I met Emil respective years ago, I was very impressed. His history, experiences, large sensitivity and cordiality moved me. I've always felt that this boy has quite a few strength, motivation, and a will to fight that the toughest commandos wouldn't be ashamed of. After a fewer years' break, destiny again touched us.

This time in the winter of 2025. Emil flew to Canada to fight at the Invictus Games global Games together with Polish veterans' representation. And I, along with camera operator Marcin Kopcie, accompanied our players on this expedition to study their sporting struggles.

I rapidly found that, first of all, Invictus Games is not about winning medals, although undoubtedly the success of sports in the global arena tastes very good, and second, that veterans like Emil – sensitive, empathic and at the same time strong – are much more.

While observing them during the games, Martin and I found it regrettable to close this Canadian adventure only in simple sports relations. Far beyond the rivalry of the players, we saw mutilated souls, unworked stories, hard experiences, and painful memories. We understood that the Invictus Games for any was an chance to prove to themselves and others that they were “managing”, and for others – to effort to close any stories or to thank families who, according to the thought of the IG, accompanied veterans injured during the games.

The 4 veterans chosen by us, we asked them what they play in their souls, what hurts, what bothers, but besides makes them so strong today. They answered honestly, and you will be able to watch their stories from Sunday, May 31 on our YouTube channel. "Tracks that can't be seen" is Emil Uran's story, Adam Lewkowski, Rafał Kozzenewski and Andrzej Kuciński. Everyone else, everyone special. Thanks a lot, gentlemen!