Former Ukrainian lawmaker Oleg Tsaryov, a pro-Russian figure with alleged ties to Moscow, was shot and injured in a late-night attack, according to family and officials. The incident comes amidst a series of assassinations targeting prominent pro-Moscow figures since the outbreak of the conflict.

The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation into the attempt on Tsaryov's life, which took place in Yalta, Crimea - a region annexed by Russia in 2014. Tsaryov, who had been residing in a sanatorium, was shot twice and was found unconscious and heavily bleeding when help arrived.

While the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) declined to provide specific details, a source within the agency referred to the shooting as a "special operation" targeting Tsaryov, whom they described as an "absolutely legal target." The source also mentioned that Tsaryov had been on a list of individuals deemed traitors and responsible for crimes against Ukraine.

Currently in intensive care, Tsaryov is said to be in critical condition, with doctors working to save his life. However, the source from the SBU expressed uncertainty about his chances of survival, stating that there was a possibility he might not make it.

Sources familiar with Russia's alleged post-invasion plans claim that Tsaryov was considered to head a puppet government in Kyiv if Moscow's advance on the capital had been successful. These plans were supposedly conceived in early 2022 to remove President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from power.

Oleg Tsaryov, who previously served in the Ukrainian parliament and later became the speaker of the self-proclaimed "Novorossiya" parliament, faced sanctions from Ukraine, the United States, and several other Western countries. His involvement in running hotels in Crimea has been his most recent public endeavor.

With Tsaryov now joined by several pro-war Russian figures in the Myrotvorets database, including journalist Darya Dugina, war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, and former submarine commander Stanislav Rzhitsky, questions regarding the motives behind these assassinations continue to arise. Dugina and Tatarsky were killed in separate bomb explosions, while Rzhitsky was shot dead during an early morning run.

The incident involving Oleg Tsaryov underscores the volatility and ongoing tensions within Ukraine, particularly between pro-Russian and Ukrainian factions. As investigations into the attack continue, it remains uncertain how this incident will impact the overall conflict and political landscape in the region.