Sophia Kyivska Saved: With the Support of Darnytsia and Partners, UNESCO Site's Walls Have Been Dried
At Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the final stage of drying the walls and foundations of the cathedral and surrounding buildings has been completed using Swiss BioDry technology. The General Director of the National Reserve "Saint Sophia of Kyiv," Nelya Kukovalska, was awarded a certificate confirming the moisture control measurements.
"Today, thanks to our partners, we have overcome an internal threat to our thousand-year-old monument—excess moisture, which had been degrading the structural properties and gradually destroying it. This affected not just the cathedral building but also its integral elements — frescoes, oil paintings, and mosaics," explains Nelya Kukovalska.
The project to save one of Ukraine's most important cultural monuments began back in 2020. This initiative became possible thanks to the support of Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies Darnytsia and InterChem, who jointly donated 130,000 euros.
"Cultural heritage is a strategic resource of a country, no less important than energy or medicine. Ukrainian business is increasingly taking responsibility for preserving it for future generations. The project supporting 'Saint Sophia of Kyiv' is another manifestation of such responsibility by Darnytsia, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be involved," notes Kateryna Zagoriy, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company.
"For Darnytsia, supporting such projects is a matter of honor and the heart. We believe that a strong country is not only about a modern army or medicine, but also about the preservation of culture and our national memory. I am proud of everyone who contributed to this cause. Many thanks to colleagues, partners, and the entire Sophia team for their faith, dedication, and love for Ukraine," adds Darnytsia's CEO Andriy Obryzan.
Around 30 drying devices were installed in several stages at the reserve. Over five years they helped to reduce the moisture content of the walls and foundations from nearly critical 13% to 4%, which is a natural level for the material of the monument. In 2025, the project was renewed and two more devices were installed, including one at the "Golden Gate" museum, which is part of the reserve.Each drying system is a small passive antenna consisting of an outer container and an internal element. The equipment was installed without disturbing the architecture—antennas were carefully attached with special brackets.
When the device operates, excess water is not absorbed by the walls or foundations, but returns back to the soil. Throughout these five years, dehumidification experts monitored the masonry, air, and temperature in the buildings 24/7 using a dedicated online monitoring system.
Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company is one of the largest medicine producers in Ukraine and consistently implements charitable and humanitarian projects. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Darnytsia has provided over half a billion hryvnias in charitable aid to Ukraine's Defense Forces, healthcare institutions, and volunteer organizations. Since 2022, more than 200 institutions and units have received support from Darnytsia.
InterChem is another leading Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturer and is among the country’s largest donors. Supporting the military since 2014, the company has directed over 300 million UAH to assist the Defense Forces and those affected by the war. InterChem has also continued all of its charitable initiatives in sports, education, culture, and medicine, maintaining long-term cooperation with dozens of charitable foundations, volunteer groups, and military units.
