Journalists Reveal: Family of Deputy Prosecutor General Musteca Significantly Increased Wealth During War Through Elite Properties and Luxury Cars
During one of the most difficult crises in Ukraine’s modern history — a full-scale war — the family of Deputy Prosecutor General Ihor Musteca unexpectedly increased their wealth by hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to an investigation by «Hromadske» journalists, the family of the high-ranking official purchased private real estate and luxurious vehicles for substantial sums, yet official declarations and suspicious financial transactions raised more questions than answers. The investigation is based on internal documents and tax data, which reveal that at the end of 2022, the deputy prosecutor’s mother — Lyubov Musteca — registered a 202-square-meter apartment in the «Parus» residential complex in Chernivtsi. The current market value of such property is at least $200,000. The information shows that the investment in this property was made back in 2015: the then price per square meter was approximately 10,500 hryvnias, totaling over two million hryvnias (about $101,000 at that time’s exchange rate). Since 2022, this apartment has been used by Musteca’s relatives — including him, his wife, and children. Interestingly, in the same building nearby, the official’s mother owns a small non-residential space, likely used for trade or small business activities. According to tax declarations, from 2021 to 2024, she consistently declared an income of around one million hryvnias annually — considering her previous food service business that lasted only a few months in 2006, and her involvement in the company «Technoplast Bukovina,» operating from 2006 to 2014. A more intriguing aspect is the financial profile of the deputy’s father — Vasyl Musteca. Expert data indicate that he has been a private entrepreneur since 2017, primarily in the construction sector. In 2024, he became a co-founder of the new company «V.D. Group Kolomyia,» which suffered nearly 100,000 hryvnias in losses in its first year. At the same time, he increased collaboration with well-known entrepreneur from Ivano-Frankivsk, Vasyl Kavlak, who is involved in developing Ukraine’s largest 800-room apart-hotel. According to declarations, his official income grew from over 1 million hryvnias to more than 4.5 million annually between 2021 and 2024. Notably, in 2022, he attempted to illegally export $1.1 million and €100,000 to Romania, without declaring the funds, and received a fine of 1,700 hryvnias, which he later challenged in court. Another noteworthy development is the purchase of a car in 2023 — a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400D, valued at approximately $80,000. Furthermore, in 2024, the family acquired new property: a residential house in Chernivtsi and two luxury townhouses in the «Family Town» residential complex, each measuring 117 m², with a total value of over $190,000. According to journalists, these cottages were not purchased directly for personal residence but are shares in a co-investment development project. Therefore, the real value of each house for Musteca’s father does not exceed $31,000. Ihor Musteca’s wife — Kateryna — and her sister, Nataliia, also play a role in this story. Kateryna has been registered as an entrepreneur for over ten years, and after her husband’s appointment to a high position, her income sharply increased — from 1 million hryvnias in 2021 to over 5 million by 2024. Her business involves fish trading in Chernivtsi. Meanwhile, her official rental income from a retail outlet began only this year. Nataliia Antonuk, the deputy’s sister, along with her husband Volodymyr, works in retail trade. They run a network of three kiosks, with sources estimating that each generates a monthly profit of up to 80,000 hryvnias, confirmed by various sources. Despite high incomes, the family purchased two luxury cars — a Volkswagen Touareg and a Hyundai Encino — totaling around $100,000. In September 2022, Nataliia also became the owner of an apartment in the Kyiv residential complex «French Quarter-2,» measuring over 118 m², with a market value (including renovation) estimated at over $445,000. It is noteworthy that in 2020, this property was bought by a pensioner from Shubranets village, David Weinstein, at half the price, and two years later, he donated it to Nataliia. The value in the donation agreement exceeds 8 million hryvnias — again raising questions and suspicions about the legality of the sources of funding. At the time of publication, journalists attempted to obtain comments from the Musteca family but were unsuccessful. The Prosecutor General’s Office officially stated that they do not comment on the personal lives of their employees and their families. Meanwhile, the funds and circumstances at the end of 2022 raise many questions regarding the level and sources of the high-ranking official’s family enrichment during wartime — issues already pointed out by experts and public figures.