New Delhi, March 3 (TIWN) Russian forces were on Thursday trying to encircle Kiev amid intense fighting currently underway within 20-40 km of the Ukrainian capital, a non-profit think tank said.

In a statement to the local Ukrainska Pravda newspaper, the Kiev-based Centre for Defence Strategies said: "The enemy is trying to encircle the capital with a massive gathering of troops (close to 30 tactical battalions). The biggest threat comes from the north and north west of Kiev (Ivankiv, Vorzel, Bucha, Irpin Hostomil)."