Russian President Vladimir Putin 's close crony has been found shot dead in his office in Russia in a mysterious discovery.
Colonel Vadim Boyko, 44, was closely involved with the despot's mobilisation campaign for the war in Ukraine.
In September, Putin announced a "partial mobilisation" of military reservists in Russia, meaning that thousands of untrained Russians were called up to fight in a desperate bid to prop up his failing war in Ukraine.
According to reports, Boyko - who was also the deputy head of the prestigious Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School in Vladivostok - was found with "multiple bullet wounds" to his body.
The dad-of two, who was reported to be in charge of armaments and ammunition at the elite academy, came into work as usual.
But as he entered his office, five shots were heard soon after, reports say.
A duty officer who heard the sound of gunfire then rushed to the scene and saw Boyko's body.
While initial reports in Russia said that suicide was suspected, BAZA media - which has close law enforcement links - said criminal investigators had found five shell casings and four Makarov pistols beside the dead colonel.
The BAZA report went on to question how the colonel could have shot himself in the chest five times.
The report was also quick to challenge the suicide story as no suicide note was found, according to reports.
Boyko is the latest Russian senior figure to have die in mysterious circumstances since the war started in February.
Last month the body of lieutenant colonel Roman Malyk, 49, was found on a fence in the Primorsky region, in the southern far east, in the south-eastern part of Russia.
The military commissar was in charge of enlistment for Putin’s chaotic mobilisation campaign in his district.
While initially a suicide was suspected, a murder probe was late ropened.
But then - just five days later - investigators claimed suicide was the likely cause of death.
However, the FederalPress Telegram channel reported that Malyk's relatives and friends are disputing the cops findings, and have insisted that he was “balanced and self-confident”.
They added that the married father-of-two a veteran of Russia’s war in Chechnya, and he proved his loyalty to Russia by being in charge of enlistment in Partizan district and surrounding areas in Primorsky region.
Meanwhile, almost 100 military enlistment offices have been hit with Molotov cocktails amid anger over the tyrant's mobilisation plans.
