Polazhev, the former mayor of Belgorod, was killed following injuries sustained from a drone strike while serving in the military. Reports indicate that he was in critical condition before succumbing to his wounds.
The details surrounding Polazhev’s death remain unclear, as family members have not disclosed further information. However, pro-government sources claim he was severely injured in a drone attack.
At 53 years old, Polazhev was born in Belgorod and obtained his higher education at the Kharkiv State Automobile and Road Technical University in Ukraine. He began his career in the Belgorod administration in 2013, eventually becoming mayor in 2015. In 2019, he transitioned to the regional government, where he served as deputy governor and managed initiatives related to shelter preparation and the restoration of damaged housing during the ongoing war.
In 2023, Polazhev resigned and was subsequently arrested on corruption charges, accused of accepting two cars valued at 18 million rubles (approximately 9.6 million hryvnias) from a construction company director in exchange for favorable treatment regarding contract issues. He received a five-year prison sentence and a fine before signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to join the fight against Ukraine.
