22 September 2026

Russian media have reported that Konstantin Polezhayev, former mayor of the Russian city of Belgorod and former head of the regional housing and utilities department, has been killed in action in the war against Ukraine.

Source: Belgorod-based media outlet Fonar, citing Polezhayev’s relatives; Latvia-based Russian news outlet Meduza

Details: Polezhayev’s relatives told Fonar that the former mayor had been killed in action. The outlet provided no further details.

Polezhayev served as mayor of Belgorod from 2015 to 2019. He subsequently became deputy governor of Belgorod Oblast responsible for housing and utilities.

Among other things, Polezhayev was responsible for the reconstruction of Shebekino and Novaya Tavolzhanka following attacks. However, he was dismissed in the summer of 2023 over the poor quality of the reconstruction work in these settlements.

Soon afterwards, the former deputy governor was detained on suspicion of accepting bribes in the form of cars worth 17 million roubles (over US$200,000).

In August 2024, a court sentenced Polezhayev to five years in a high-security penal colony.

Meduza reported that while serving his sentence, Polezhayev signed a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry and allegedly went to fight against Ukraine.

However, some media outlets reported that the former official did not actually go to the front but was listed as a member of the BARS mobilisation reserve unit and only nominally “served” there.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/09/22/8054567