Russian President Vladimir Putin has "dismissed" an official who spoke out towards his invasion of Ukraine.

Natalia Poklonskaya, a Russian politician born in Ukraine's Luhansk area, wrote in a Telegram put up Monday that Putin "signed a decree" on her present function in connection to her switch to a brand new job.

Poklonskaya's dismissal from her function as deputy head of the federal company Rossotrudnichestvo comes months after her newest remarks criticizing the Russia-Ukraine struggle. Additional particulars about her dismissal, together with what her new job can be and whether it is associated to her struggle criticisms, weren't identified Monday morning, although in her announcement she wrote she is "grateful to our President for his help and belief!"

In April, Poklonskaya spoke out towards the image of the letter Z, a emblem that has come to symbolize pro-Russian sentiment amid the invasion, and specialists have warned that it has fascist overtones. It has appeared on Russian navy automobiles, clothes and merchandise as Russians present solidarity with their navy.

Natalia Poklonskaya dismissed following war critiques
Natalia Poklonskaya has been dismissed from her function in Russia’s Rossotrudnichestvo company following a number of criticisms of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Above, she is seen in Moscow in October 2016. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Photographs

However throughout an interview with a well-liked Russian YouTube channel, Poklonskaya provided some criticism of the image. Her remarks obtained widespread backlash, together with from her superiors in Rossotrudnichestvo, The Moscow Instances reported.

"This letter Z symbolizes tragedy and grief for each Russia and Ukraine," she stated.

She later defended her remarks in a Telegram put up, writing that she believes "it is harmful to blindly worship any symbols—historical past would not like that."

"Troopers and abnormal persons are dropping their lives, many are crippled and what number of extra there can be…? What number of prisoners of struggle, how a lot grief…? That is all referred to as misfortune, tragedy, disaster," she wrote, including that if talking her opinion violates her job's guidelines, she is going to settle for being punished.

Most Russian politicians have lined up behind the federal government place supporting the struggle, with solely few talking towards it. Talking out towards the struggle has include penalties for some Russians, as Russian authorities have cracked down on free speech and impartial media for the reason that struggle started in late February.

She additionally described the invasion as a "disaster" in an deal with to the Brix discussion board in April, reported The Moscow Instances. She famous that her "two native nations are killing one another."

"Persons are dying, homes and full cities are destroyed [leaving] thousands and thousands of refugees. Our bodies and souls are mutilated. My coronary heart is bursting with ache, she stated.

When Russia annexed the area of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, authorities appointed Poklonskaya to be prosecutor of the area. She has develop into a well-liked politician in Russia and has opposed Ukraine's entry into the European Union. She is needed in Ukraine on treason costs after siding with Crimean separatists, in line with Ukrayinska Pravda.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian authorities's press service for remark.