MOSCOW

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said on Tuesday "special military operation will continue until set goals are achieved."

Speaking at a meeting of Russia's military chiefs in Moscow, Shoygu said the operation's main goal is "to protect the Russian Federation from the military threat posed by Western countries."

Shoygu accused the West of using the Ukrainian people in the fight against Russia, and insisted that the Russian armed forces do not occupy the Ukrainian territory and take all measures to preserve the lives and safety of civilians.

"I emphasize that strikes are carried out only on military facilities and exclusively with high-precision weapons," he added.

Shoygu accused the Ukrainian military of using civilians as a human shield, saying they deploy multiple rocket launchers, guns, large-caliber mortars in the courtyards of residential buildings, near schools and kindergartens.

He also thanked the Russian servicemen "for courage and heroism, conscientious and professional performance of tasks."

Since last Thursday -- days after Russian recognition of two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine -- Russia's war on Ukraine has been met by an outcry from the international community, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia has been further isolated after its planes have been barred from flying in European and Canadian airspace, and a number of its banks have been kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system.