Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said Moscow is planning a coup in in his country, in comments to journalists on Friday.
"I have received information that a coup will take place in our country on 1 December," Zelensky said, saying Russian representatives and Rinat Akhmetov, the wealthiest person in Ukraine, were planning a coup according to audio recordings.
Zelensky also said that it was possible the businessman had been dragged into the plan and had nothing to do with it but said he would confront Akhmetov with the recordings.
The Kremlin rejected Zelensky's accusation straight away.
"Russia has no plans to take part in this. And Russia never deals with such matters," government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Interfax news agency.
President criticized on TV
Akhmetov is seen as an opponent of a law recently passed in Ukraine to curb oligarchs' political influence. Since its introduction, Zelensky has been harshly criticized in programmes on Akhmetov's television channels.
Zelensky receives more support on the television channel owned by his patron, billionaire Ukrainian oligarch and former public official Igor Kolomoisky.
