Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday Russian leader Vladimir Putin was behind the death of mutinous mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in an unexplained plane crash with his top lieutenants last month.
President Zelensky, who provided no evidence to back up his assertion, made the comment in passing at a conference in Kyiv as he was asked a question about the Russian president.
"The fact that he killed Prigozhin - at least that's the information we all have, not any other kind - that also speaks to his rationality, and about the fact that he is weak," Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Kremlin says all possible causes of the crash will be investigated, including the possibility of foul play. It has called the suggestion that Vladimir Putin ordered the deaths of Prigozhin and his men an "absolute lie".
Wagner chief Prigozhin this summer led a brief mutiny in Russia that posed the biggest challenge to President Putin's rule since he rose to power in 1999. It prompted the Kremlin chief to accuse its authors of "treason" and a "stab in the back".
Many critics of Vladimir Putin have died in unclear circumstances during his 23 years in power, or narrowly escaped dying.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Japan PM Announces Resignation, Who Will Replace Him?
Zelensky Says Ukraine Controls 74 Russian Settlements Who Is Vadim Krasikov, The Assassin Freed In Russian Prisoner Swap Putin Meets Freed Russian Prisoners At Moscow Airport Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing "Soldiers, Farmers, Youth. I Salute Them All": PM Modi In Speech At Red Fort Trump Speaks With Netanyahu Over Gaza Truce And Hostage Deal: Report Indian-Origin Man Jailed For Helping Friend In Singapore Football Scam Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.