Russian Military Deaths Surge as BBC Tracks Obituaries

A sharp increase in Russian soldier obituaries suggests wartime losses are rising at their fastest rate yet. The BBC's Russian service documented the trend as part of its ongoing effort to count casualties. The research uses publicly available data, including social media posts from families and local authorities. This independent verification is crucial, as official Russian figures are rarely disclosed. The reported surge in deaths comes amid international calls for a negotiated peace. The United States is reportedly urging diplomatic talks. The BBC's project continues to track losses, providing one of the few external measures of the war's human cost. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation."