FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on pension reforms in Moscow, Russia August 29, 2018. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin called the killing of east Ukraine separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko on Friday a “dastardly” act that aimed to destabilize the fragile peace in the region.

However, Putin, in a statement issued by the Kremlin, did not accuse Ukraine of being behind the killing. Putin expressed his condolences to Zakharchenko’s family.