Russian professor fired after telling students "jail is better than being Putin's cannon fodder"

A university teacher has been fired under Vladimir Putin’s draconian laws after telling her students that prison is better than being his "cannon fodder."

Olga Lizunkova, 25, was reported to police by one or more of her students at the University of Engineering and Economics, in Nizhny Novgorod, the UK-based Mirror reported on October 6.

The English teacher is waiting to see if she will be jailed for up to five years or fined for “discrediting the Russian army”.

She is accused of telling her students - who were at risk of being called up under Putin’s mobilisation drive - that Ukraine "is stronger and will win anyway".

It was better to go to prison than become "cannon fodder" in Ukraine, she allegedly advised them.

Olga is now in trouble with the authorities over her “monologue” to students which was delivered two days after Putin announced the partial mobilisation of 300,000 civilian reservists, reported BAZA media.

She has since said: "I didn’t advise them to go to jail. They misrepresented me. I said prison is better than war."

The university’s administration said today that Lizunkova "no longer seems to work" in her job.

This was seen as an indication she had been fired. The married teacher can be fined up to £740 or face jail of up to five years if her words are found to discredit the Russian army.

The law has been introduced to stifle criticism of Putin's attempt to invade Ukraine.

Olga's previous employer at an English language school in the city praised her as an excellent teacher.

A spokesperson said: "The teacher is good and knowledgeable. Information was always presented very appropriately. Parents praised, children were happy."