Local news said a single shot to the temple. National news source Pravda said it was 5 shots to the chest, self-inflicted. Boyko was part of Russia's mobilization efforts to get more Russians to fight in Ukraine. A perfectly plausible explanation - if you're Russian.

Source: NY Post

A high-ranking Russian army colonel with ties to Vladimir Putin’s mobilization efforts for the war in Ukraine died under mysterious circumstances this week.

Col. Vadim Boyko was found dead in his office at Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School on Wednesday, local news reported.

Early media coverage, including a Telegram post by the Far Eastern Gazette, described the incident as a suicide. “[Boyko] came to work and put a bullet in his temple,” the initial post read.

A similar post from BAZA — an outlet with ties to law enforcement — questioned the suicide scenario, noting that witnesses heard five shots coming from Boyko’s office.

“The duty officer, who heard the shooting, ran to the place and saw Boyko’s body — the colonel was dead,” BAZA recounted. “The man did not leave a suicide note. At the place of his death, criminalists found five cartridge cases and four Makarov pistols.

“Local media report that it was suicide, but then it turns out that the colonel shot himself in the chest five times.”