A pro-Russian former politician in Ukraine is fighting for his life after being shot in his Crimea home, an official has said. Oleg Tsaryov, who was reportedly being lined to lead a puppet administration in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after Russia’s invasion, is in intensive care in hospital, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine, said. He was reportedly shot twice at around midnight at his home in Crimea. “Oleg’s condition is very serious. He is currently in intensive care," Mr Rogov wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Sources told Reuters last year that Russia had been lining up Mr Tsaryov to head a puppet government in Kyiv after Moscow’s forces invaded on 24 February. Mr Tsaryov himself dismissed that possibility when The Financial Times reported it, citing US intelligence, ahead of the invasion. He told the paper at the time that the idea was "pretty funny" because he was just running a wellness business in Crimea and was "not important enough". Previously, Mr Tsaryov had been a member of the Ukrainian parliament and then speaker of the parliament of "Novorossiya", an entity formed after Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine broke away in 2014 and began fighting Ukrainian forces. News of the shooting comes amid continued fighting on the frontline where Russian troops have been executed for retreating from key battles. US intelligence said Russian soldiers had been fleeing the frontline in the Kremlin’s offensive in the eastern city of Avdiivka, Donetsk. “We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told a media briefing on Thursday. Ukrainian forces have been repelling the Russian onslaught on the frontline in Donetsk for several weeks since mid-October. Meanwhile, the alternative Black Sea export corridor will continue to function despite all threats, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday morning. The presidential office reported that Mr Zelensky discussed the operation of the route as well as vessel insurance during a phone call with British prime minister Rishi Sunak. On Thursday, the Kyiv-based Barva Invest consultancy, British security firm Ambrey and a specialised outlet, Ukrainian Ports, reported that Ukraine had suspended use of the corridor due to a possible threat from Russian warplanes and sea mines. Additional reporting by agencies Read More War-weary mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian soldiers demand a cap on military service time Russia-Ukraine war: Putin’s troops ‘executed for retreating’ Abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage as the country takes a conservative turn As the Turkish Republic turns 100, here's a look at its achievements and challenges ahead Russia is executing its own retreating soldiers as Ukraine offensive fails, says US White House says Russia is executing its own soldiers for not following orders

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Monday as investors awaited earnings from more megacap companies and

Russia's deadly attack on a beloved pizzeria in eastern Ukraine in June was painful for residents

Judy Solomon, who led the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for six terms and helped shape the Golden Globes into a global award show, died on Friday

Helen Mirren stated that if historical accuracy dictates the use of prosthetics to reflect how a figure looked, it might be a reasonable choice

Logan Paul shocked viewers by announcing his participation in Money in the Bank but many fans think he will not win the briefcase

Merrill Kelly threw seven strong innings, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ripped a two-run double and the Arizona Diamondbacks won their season-high sixth game in a row by beating the Atlanta Braves 3-2

By Rich McKay (Reuters) -An estimated $1.1 billion jackpot was up for grabs in the multistate Mega Millions drawing on

A new study finds that hurricanes the last few decades killed thousands more people than meteorologists calculate and a disproportionate number were poor, vulnerable and minorities

Ex-president Donald Trump and 18 other defendants were indicted in Georgia on 41 counts related to their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election which includes violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. A grand jury in Fulton County Georgia handed down the indictment on Monday, stemming from a years-long investigation by district attorney Fani Willis. Jurors found Mr Trump along with some of his allies including Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Mark Meadows of “knowingly and willfully” joining a conspiracy to “unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump” in Georgia. Each defendant is facing a specific set of charges unique to their alleged involvement. Read the indictment in full here: Read More Trump indictment live: Trump and allies indicted by Georgia grand jury in 2020 election investigation Trump and 18 allies indicted on RICO charges in Georgia election case Trump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Follow live updates

Chinese authorities on Monday publicly accused a government worker of spying for the CIA, the second high-profile espionage case publicized this month as Beijing ramps up its emphasis -- and rhetoric -- on national security.

Federal prosecutors have expanded investigations into Tesla beyond the electric vehicle maker’s partially automated driving systems, and they have issued subpoenas for information instead of simply requesting it