“We’ve certainly heard various parties claim that Russia wanted to overrun Kiev, or Kyiv, or Keeeve or whatever we’re supposed to be calling it now, but to the best of my awareness, Russia has never claimed to want to occupy that city, or the surrounding territory for that matter.”
Then you haven’t been following this war since Day One.
Well, not obsessively. But enough to have observed the following claims made by the western media, the Ukrainian regime, and our own politicians of both parties, and various heads of state of EU countries. In no particular order:
1. The Russians thought they could roll over Ukraine in 3 days. Or a week. But in any case it would be quick and easy.
2. Russia aimes to occupy the entire territory of Ukraine, including Kiev,
3. The Russians are running out of ammunition (this was in April of last year)
4. The Ukrainian forces are inflicting massive casualties on Russian troops.
If there's an offician Russian source that has repeated any of the above claims, I would very much like to be made aware of it, but one would think such information would be easier to find if it was out there.
That said, here's what can actually be sourced to official Russian sources:
They have not issued a specific timetable for their "special military operation".
They intend to permanently occupy those parts of eastern Ukrain with majority Russian speaking populations.
They intend to install a pro-Russia regime in Ukraine and permanently end any thoughts of NATO expansion into Ukraine.