Authors

Mariia Pshenychna¹;  ¹ University of Stirling, UK

Discussion

The relevance of studying Andriy Kurkov’s novel Grey Bees (2018) has increased dramatically against the backdrop of the current war in Ukraine. The novel depicts the deep political and social aspects of the war in the Donbas region, focusing on the personal experiences of people caught in the grey zone - the neutral territory between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists who joined the Russian army - an experience made all the more relevant by the general militarisation and destruction of civilian life in many parts of Ukraine. The protagonist, Serhiy Serhiyovych, tries to live in detachment from the political conflict, and his bees are a symbol of peace and stability amidst the chaos, reflecting his desire to preserve harmony in a ruined world. 
The study of Grey Bees aids in understanding the consequences of war on a personal level, including how people try to preserve their identity and moral values during times of crisis. The themes of political isolation and refugees are clearly revealed through the protagonist’s life: Serhiy resided in an abandoned village before going to Crimea to find a safe place for his bees. But it is not an attempt to escape the war, for he refuses to leave his home for a long time before taking a decisive act. His initial reluctance to move in the face of war is a symbol of hope that the conflict will end swiftly and life in his native land will be restored. Through the use of narrative and textual techniques (such as an ironic mode and alienation), Kurkov portrays the protagonist’s experience of war through the prism of everyday life, allowing the reader to perceive the conflict with a sense of detachment and irony, while simultaneously offering a deeper exploration of Ukraine’s political reality.
Thus, Grey Bees serves as a relevant literary source for understanding the contemporary realities of the war in Ukraine, making the novel important for cultural, social, and political analysis in the context of the present.