This is an intelligent debate. I don’t think Russia’s original intent was to attack Kiev and other areas as a diversion but it may have morphed into such a strategy. It forces the Ukrainians to defend everywhere and hence makes it impossible to assemble their forces for a major offensive of their own. No matter how inefficient, Russia can “afford” to sacrifice some of their forces to pin down and splinter the Ukrainian resistance. Russian military has a history of being a big blunt instrument.