Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a press conference with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (not pictured) in front of the presidential palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 6, 2023.
Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy 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.
Zelenskiy, 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.
It has called the suggestion that Putin ordered the deaths of Prigozhin and his men an "absolute lie".
Many critics of Putin have died in unclear circumstances during his 23 years in power, or narrowly escaped dying.
Persons:
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mette Frederiksen, Ritzau Scanpix, Ida Marie Odgaard, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Zelenskiy, Prigozhin, Putin, Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth, Timothy
Organizations:
Denmark's, REUTERS, Rights, Kremlin, Timothy Heritage, Thomson
Locations:
Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia