Most Russians believe Vladimir Putin's lies about the brutal invasion of Ukraine, the head of a banned TV network has warned.
Since the Kremlin unleashed the senseless bloodshed in February, Putin and his cronies have cracked down on dissenting media.
Although large protests have been held across the country, those taking part risk arrest and draconian prison sentences as the government tries to shield Russians from the truth.
In recent days sickening details have emerged about alleged Russian war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and the targeting of civilians.
Natalia Sindeeva, who set up independent Dozhd TV - which was shut down following the invasion - said she was pessimistic that the majority of the public could be reached.
She told The Independent that most Russians watch "propaganda", stating: "They have completely opposite footage, they think it is Ukrainians who bomb Mariupol, they believe that Ukrainians killed people in Bucha."
Ms Sindeeva said that media outlets which tell the truth have no access to a wider audience.
She stated: "We cannot reach them, and, to be honest, they do not have any demand for independent information.
"It is a majority of the people – they support the war, they support Putin, they make it easier for him.”
She estimated that just 20 per cent of the population have access to information about what is really happening in Ukraine.
Last month Putin's regime introduced new censorship laws that punishes those who do not toe the line with up to 15 years in prison.
It has had a chilling effect across Russian media, with the public now spoon-fed unquestioning coverage of what lying officials brand a "special military operation".
Propaganda stations wrongly repeat the false claim that Russia is ridding Ukraine of Nazis.
The censorship has seen some journalists forced to flee the country rather than repeat the Kremlin's narrative.
Liliya Gildeyeva, 45, was a leading anchor on Gazprom-Media's NTV channel for more than 15 years and had previously been praised by the Russian President.
She said she fled the country before submitting her resignation letter.
Ms Gildeyeva told blogger Ilya Varlamov: "At first I left, I was afraid they wouldn't let me go, then I wrote my resignation letter."
It was the latest example of a journalist breaking ranks despite the Kremlin tightening its grip on state media in a bid to limit the information available to citizens.
News editor Marina Ovsyannikova, who works for state network Channel One, last night burst onto the set of a live broadcast shouting: "Stop the war. No to war."
She was brandishing a sign saying: "Don't believe the propaganda. They're lying to you here."
Ms Ovsyannikova released a statement saying she was ashamed of working for the channel spreading "Kremlin propaganda" and said the war was a crime.
