A Russian journalist who was reported 'murdered' in Ukraine -- startled reporters by walking into a news conference -- still very much alive. Ar-kady Bab-chen-ko was said to have been gunned down on Wednesday by pro-Russian forces. Now the Kremlin critic says his death was staged as part of an investigation into threats against him. Dan Ashby has more from Moscow.

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "It's a bizarre twist in a murder story: there was no murder at all. Arkady Babchenko, a Russian journalist and government critic, walked into a Ukranian Intelligence Service news conference - completely unscathed. Some 24 hours earlier, police said he'd been gunned down at his apartment in Ukraine, because of his journalism, which often criticized the Kremlin and President Putin. Even the prime minister of Ukraine spoke out about it. But now the intelligence service says he was actually involved in a sting to help catch the men targeting him.

They say he had to fake his death, before Russia's intelligence service carried out a contracted killing on him.

Here, in Moscow, there is disbelief at this turn of events. The Kremlin says it is the best of news that he's alive, but the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has had a propaganda effect of discrediting Russia by accusing it of a killing which of course - never took place.

As for Babchenko, who apologized to his family and friends, he will now be able to read his own obituaries.

Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow."