sentences:  Whether this was actually Rasputin's intent or whether he was simply concerned about the huge number of Russian casualties (as the Empress's letters indicate) is in dispute, but it is clear that the British perceived him as a real threat to the war effort.Neither Vladimir Purishkevich nor Yusupov mention the close quarter shot to the forehead.Purishkevich said he fired at Rasputin from behind at a distance of twenty paces and hit Rasputin in the back of the head.