Kiev, Feb 27 (IANS) The siege of Kiev is the primary purpose of Russia's offensive against Ukraine, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has said on Facebook.Russia plans to encircle and block Kiev to "demilitarise" Ukraine and force the Ukrainian leadership to change its political course on Russian terms, the statement said on Saturday.On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a "special military operation" in Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.According to Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko, 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed.
--IANS int/khz/
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