Two-meter cake and over 300 guests: journalists conduct an investigation into how government officials celebrate weddings during the war

Ukrainian journalists have conducted an investigation into how government officials celebrate weddings during wartime.

Over the course of two days, on October 7th and 8th, at the five-star Emily Resort complex near Lviv, prosecutors, former law enforcement personnel, employees of the State Bureau of Investigations, tax authorities, and local deputies celebrated the lavish wedding of Rostislav Ilnitsky (former prosecutor of Pechersk district in Kyiv) and Roxolana Moskva (an employee of the HR department of the State Bureau of Investigations in Lviv).

The wedding came with an exorbitant price tag. Just the two-meter tall wedding cake was estimated to cost 100,000 Ukrainian hryvnias.

The groom, 31-year-old Rostislav Ilnitsky, is a former prosecutor. In 2019, he served as the deputy prosecutor in Radekhiv. He had plans to become the chief prosecutor of the Kherson region but was unsuccessful. Several months ago, Ilnitsky voluntarily resigned from his position as a prosecutor in Pechersk district in Kyiv. It is currently unclear where and in what capacity Rostislav Ilnitsky is currently employed, as he did not respond to calls or messages via WhatsApp.

The bride, 27-year-old Roxolana Moskva, formerly worked in the HR department of the State Bureau of Investigations in Lviv. Roxolana was dismissed from the bureau in March 2022 but later successfully petitioned to return to work through the court system. In September 2022, the Eighth Appellate Administrative Court reinstated her in her position and awarded her 231,000 hryvnias for forced absence. However, the State Bureau of Investigations is appealing this decision in the Supreme Court, and the appellate court’s ruling has not yet taken effect. Additionally, the bride is the daughter of a well-known lawyer and businesswoman in Lviv, Bogdana Moskva, and a relative of the former wife of the ex-head of the State Bureau of Investigations, Roman Truba.

Roxolana Moskva shared videos from the first day of her wedding on social media, showcasing the grandeur of the celebration. It should be noted that Roxolana has since closed her social media accounts.

The celebration lasted for two days. On the first day, according to journalists, there were more than 300 guests at the wedding. Entertainment included performances by Alexander Ponomarev, Olga Polyakova, and the group “Kolokola Solntsa.” The master of ceremonies was showman Grigory Reshetnik. On the following day, the guests were entertained by Dzidzo, with approximately 500 people in attendance. The celebration was decorated in a Ukrainian style, with the bride wearing an embroidered dress instead of the traditional white gown, and the groom donning an embroidered shirt.

According to the journalists, among the several hundred guests were businesspeople, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and former law enforcement personnel.

Journalists attempted to contact Rostislav Ilnitsky multiple times to inquire about the wedding’s cost and the source of funding for such an extravagant event, but he did not respond to their calls.

It is worth noting that the parents of both the bride and groom are not financially disadvantaged, and hosting a wedding during wartime is not prohibited. However, questions arise about the appropriateness of such an opulent ceremony and celebration during a time of conflict.

In the capital, government officials are also known for celebrating in grand style. For instance, the preparations for the daughter of Sergey Chizh, the head of the MIA Service Center in Brovary, were held at the 5-star Intercontinental hotel, the celebration took place in the exclusive banquet hall of Regent Hill, and the honeymoon was in the Maldives at Lily Beach Resort & Spa.