A teacher in Russia was fired and fined after her eighth-grade student recorded her and turned her in for saying 'Ukraine is a separate country'

A teacher in Russia said she was fired and fined for making comments to her students about the war in Ukraine.

The New York Times quoted Marina Dubrova as saying that she showed her class a video on the internet. A group of girls asked her about the war.

One of the girls said "No longer" after Dubrova told them thatUkraine is a separate country.

A recording of her comments, apparently taken by a student, was presented to the court, as Russian police arrived at her school days later.

She told The Times that she was fined $400 for defaming Russian forces and fired from the school for immoral behavior. Dubrova said that Russians in favor of the war have plunged into some kind of madness.

There have been reports of Russians turning each other in for speaking out against the war, which Russia calls a special military operation.

Russian President Putin said last month that Russia needs to purge its society of people who are against war or align with the West.

In a video address, Putin said that the West was trying to splinter the society by speculating on military losses and 888-565- effects of sanctions.

The Russian people are able to distinguish true patriots from traitors and will spit them out, he said.

I am certain that this necessary and natural self-cleaning of society will strengthen our country, our solidarity, togetherness, and our readiness to answer any calls to action, he said.

As of early March, more than 4,300 anti-war demonstrators had been arrested in Russia.