Yuris burns are most likely a result of the fire that was made. Either happened after death or trying to warm themselves before they died. Is that not the simple explanation?
Regards
Star man
The best explanation for Zinaida/Igor and Rustem is that they never made it down. If so then something caused that. That something might have caused Yuri's burn as well as. If you embrace the "high energy theories" like ball lightning or rocket ordnance then it's easy to group Yuri's leg with this "something". Then you have a good explanation for the asymmetry of frostbite with the 2 Yuri's having the worst. The probability of the fire being the cause is extremely low unless you consider torture.
We don’t know for sure whether they made it down or not. A ladies handkerchief was found near the cedar so I suspect either Zina or Lyuda was at the cedar at some point.
I think the fire being the cause of the burns is highly likely, especially given the localised nature of them. If there was a bigger event responsible you would expect greater fire damage to the tent or to the other hikers.
Regards
Star man
So it's a case of the campfire burning his leg due to too close proximity versus some burning agent landing on his leg/foot from above.
From the autopsy :-"
On the left leg is a torn cotton sock, the edges of which are burned.""
The rear of the left foot is dark brown in color with subcutaneous defects of the epidermis with a size of 10 x 4 cm. The back of the second toe is charred and the skin is dark brown in color and tight when palpated. "
Here's the photo :-
Note the marks on the thigh that seem to have a repeating style.
So this is a quite selective camp fire? A 31cm burn on the leg which blows the skin, signs of heating on the foot still covered with a sock which is
not burnt except for the edges and just one of his toes is charred but only on the back? (i'm assuming the back of the toe is the side that has the nail?). This "charred" word is very significant imo. How do you put your foot in a fire and only do that to one side of one toe?
Now if instead you want to consider some highly reactive "rain" landing on these areas then you have an excellent fit (imo).
Regards.