There has been a startling revelation in Kiev.

Ukraine says it staged the murder of a Russian dissident journalist to foil a Russian assassination plot.

Authorities earlier this week announced Arkady Babchenko had been shot dead at his flat in Kiev.

His reported murder triggered a war of words between Ukraine and Russia and sent shivers through the journalistic communities in both countries.

But CNN's Frederick Pleitgen says Babchenko has reappeared during a media appearance about his own death.

"It turns out the information pretty much all Ukrainian officials were putting out was just false, that he was not dead, it was in the protection of the Ukrainian intelligence services."

An emotional Babchenko appeared before reporters, saying he'd been part of a special Ukrainian operation to thwart a Russian attempt on his life.

Ukrainian authorities say an arrest has been made.