Former Belgorod mayor and regional housing chief Konstantin Polezhaev died in the combat zone while participating in the ongoing military operation, according to an announcement by the media outlet Fonar. Polezhaev, 54, previously served as the mayor of Belgorod from 2015 to 2019 before transitioning to the role of deputy governor of the Belgorod region, where his portfolio included overseeing the reconstruction of towns like Shebekino and Nova Tavolzhanka following cross-border shelling.
Corruption Conviction and Military Contract
In the summer of 2023, then-governor Vyacheslav Gladkov dismissed Polezhaev over substandard reconstruction work, according to reporting cited by the Russian opposition web outlet The Moscow Times. Shortly after his dismissal, law enforcement detained Polezhaev on charges of accepting bribes consisting of multiple vehicles valued at 17 milionů rublů, equivalent to roughly 4,28 milionu Kč. A court subsequently sentenced Polezhaev in August 2024 to five years in a maximum-security penal colony for corruption. Rather than serve the prison term, the former official signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense to deploy to Ukraine.
Conflicting Reports on Frontline Deployment
While official announcements state he died in the combat zone, the Belgorod-based publication Pepel reported that Polezhaev never actually engaged in direct combat operations. Sources cited by Pepel stated that Polezhaev instead joined the local Belgorod military reserve unit known as BARS, and he was reportedly spotted multiple times in a local hospital.
Did You Know?
An analysis conducted by the Russian service of BBC revealed that up to 102 former officials, lawmakers, and law enforcement personnel avoided prison sentences for corruption in 2025 by enlisting in military units fighting in Ukraine.
Broader Trends Among Convicted Officials
The practice of exchanging penal colony sentences for military service raises questions about accountability for convicted state figures. Data from the BBC analysis noted that out of the officials who opted for the frontline, 17 defendants in criminal proceedings were reported killed or missing, while the remainder continued their service. Conversely, the independent outlet Novaja Gazeta Evropa reported that the vast majority of government officials who deployed to the front served in specialized “VIP units” and returned safely home without seeing heavy combat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Konstantin Polezhaev?
Konstantin Polezhaev was the former mayor of Belgorod who served from 2015 to 2019 and later worked as the deputy governor of the Belgorod region overseeing housing and communal services.
Why was Polezhaev sentenced to prison?
According to The Moscow Times, a court sentenced Polezhaev to five years in a maximum-security penal colony in August 2024 for accepting bribes in the form of vehicles worth 17 milionů rublů.
How did Polezhaev end up in the military operation?
After receiving his corruption sentence, Polezhaev signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense to avoid serving time in the penal colony, though local reporting by Pepel indicates he joined a regional reserve unit.
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