Position: First Deputy Chairman of the Volyn Regional Council.
Sphere of corrupt activity: construction.
Region of corruption activity: Volyn region.
Qualification: the actions are qualified under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an improper benefit by an official).
Status: at large.
Case story: In December 2025, NABU conducted searches in the premises of the Lutsk City and Volyn Regional Councils, including the offices of the heads of both councils. At that time, NABU and SAPO reported suspicions to Volyn Regional Council deputies Anatoliy Vitiv and Lutsk City Council deputies Mykola Fedik of receiving illegal benefits for facilitating development in Lutsk. Yuriy Savchuk was reported on suspicion of giving a bribe.
In April 2026, investigators reported additional suspicions in the same case, including Roman Bondaruk.
According to the investigation, the defendants in the case tried to facilitate the construction of a building on the site of the "Snow Queen" skating rink in Lutsk in exchange for a bribe.
At the end of August 2026, NABU and SAPO reported new suspicions in the case of bribery for facilitating the construction of an apartment building in Lutsk. Among the suspects are the first deputy chairman of the Volyn regional council and a regional council deputy who heads one of the factions. In total, six people are suspected in the case.
According to anti-corruption investigators, the amount involved is $140,000 in illegal gain. According to the investigation, the head of one of the factions of the Volyn Regional Council, together with the head of another parliamentary faction, agreed to receive this money from the user of the land plot, a former MP. In exchange for the bribe, the officials were supposed to ensure the adoption of decisions that would create legal grounds for the construction of a high-rise building in Lutsk.
Of the $140,000, according to the investigation, $110,000 was intended for the deputies themselves and other elected members of the regional council, and another $30,000 was intended for two heads of deputy factions of the Lutsk City Council. The first deputy chairman of the Volyn Regional Council was also involved in the scheme.
Investigators documented the giving and receiving of $110,000 and $15,000, as well as the subsequent distribution of the funds between the suspects.
The NABU does not name the suspects. At the same time, according to "Force of Truth", the position of first deputy chairman of the Volyn regional council is held by Yuriy Polishchuk. Probably, the head of the faction mentioned in the anti-corruption campaigners' report is Ihor Lekh, the head of the "For the Future" faction in the Volyn regional council. His name has already appeared in the materials of this case.
The suspects' actions were classified under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise, or receipt of an improper benefit by an official). The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
On September 8, 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a preventive measure in the form of a 266 thousand UAH bail on the First Deputy Chairman of the Volyn Regional Council, Yuriy Polishchuk.
The prosecutor requested that bail be set for Yuriy Polishchuk at UAH 998.4 thousand. The official himself requested that the amount be reduced, explaining that it was too large for his family. In the end, the court partially granted the prosecution's request.
Yuriy Polishchuk is also obliged to:
· appear at the summons of the NABU and SAPO;
· not to leave Lutsk and Volyn region without permission;
· report a change of residence;
· not to communicate with other persons involved in the case;
· submit passports for travel abroad.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: Lutsk City Council deputy Mykola Fedik, Volyn Regional Council deputy Anatoliy Vitiv, former People's Deputy of Ukraine Yuriy Savchuk, Lutsk City Council deputy Roman Bondaruk, Deputy Chairman of the Volyn Council Yuriy Polishchuk (member of the Svoboda party), Volyn Regional Council deputy Ihor Lekh.
Assets: In his 2025 tax return, Polishchuk indicated that he owns a residential building and a land plot in the city of Kovel. His wife Tetyana also owns two land plots. Polishchuk also rents a room in the city of Lutsk.
Yuriy Polishchuk did not specify his own vehicle, but his wife owns a Renault Megane Scenic.
Polishchuk's income for this year was 984,080 UAH, and his wife's was 293,080 UAH.
The official declared $7,000 in cash.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies responded to the criminal activity in a timely manner, handing over suspicions to all participants in the scheme.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, he was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources:
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/9f908474-0960-4a05-86c7-91a8b2c14c06