Polyanichko began his political activity as a member of the Komsomol, and professionally worked physically in a machinery factory.
[1] He belonged to a group of Azerbaijani communists advocating a more decisive policy regarding Armenian claims to Nagorno-Karabakh.
In 1990, Polyanichko was involved in organizing and later executing a campaign to deport ethnic Armenians from their homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh.
[2][3][4] On 26 June 1993, Polyanichko was appointed head of the interim administration of designated areas of the republics of North Ossetia and Ingushetia, with the rank of deputy prime minister of Russia.
Along with him, the head of the Vladikavkaz garrison, Major General Anatoly Koretsky, and senior lieutenant of the Alfa special forces unit, Viktor Kravchuk, were also killed.