Maksym Bortnyk is a researcher of traditional tree beekeeping and the founder of the NGO “Bortnyky of Ukraine.” In 2022, he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2024, he was discharged from military service for health reasons and returned to his life’s work.
He recalls how, even in a village near Izium, he once stumbled upon a wild hive full of honey — and how that moment warmed his soul.Today, Maksym is undergoing rehabilitation while slowly returning to his civilian path: tree beekeeping, mead-making, and candle crafting.
His story shows how war reshapes our connection to food — turning the ordinary into something deeply meaningful in times of struggle.
