A former Russian state TV journalist has suggested that the nation is facing “repressions of Stalin’s scale”.

Marina Ovsyannikova, a dissident who made global headlines for her on-air protest against the war in Ukraine last year, once again spoke out against Vladimir Putin as she spoke to Beth Rigby Interviews on Sky News.

“You need to understand that there are three million people serving in the FSB, the police, let alone private security companies,” Ms Ovsyannikova said, when asked if the Russian population will “oppose” the war, or if “the elites” will defeat Mr Putin in the end.

“We’re talking about repressions of Stalin’s scale.”