Overview
- Multiple Russian and Ukrainian outlets reported on Tuesday that relatives told local paper Fonar that Konstantin Polezhaev has been killed while fighting against Ukraine.
- Reports conflict on where and how he died, with some channels saying he served in the 1st strike-assault battalion of the 272nd motorized rifle regiment and others saying he was linked to the Belgorod volunteer formation BARS.
- Several Telegram channels and local media say he was fatally wounded by a drone strike, but those accounts differ on the location of the attack and have not been verified by authorities.
- Polezhaev was convicted of taking large bribes in August 2024 and sentenced to five years and a heavy fine, and reporting from October 2024 said he went to the front instead of serving that sentence.
- The case highlights reporting gaps in the region: family statements, pro-war and independent Telegram channels, and regional authorities offer divergent narratives that leave key facts unresolved and raise questions about mobilization and accountability.