Russian losses in the war with Ukraine have accelerated over the past 10 months, marking the most rapid increase since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, according to a BBC analysis. This escalation in casualties coincides with intensified peace efforts in 2025, driven by pressure from the US President Donald Trump administration.

The BBC, in collaboration with independent outlet Mediazona and a team of volunteers, has been documenting Russian war losses since February 2022. Their methodology involves compiling a list of named individuals whose deaths are confirmed through official reports, newspapers, social media, and newly established memorials and gravesites. As of now, the BBC has verified the names of nearly 160,000 individuals killed fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine.

"We keep a list of named individuals whose deaths we were able to confirm using official reports, newspapers, social media, and new memorials and graves," stated Olga Ivshina of BBC News Russian.

Military experts consulted by the BBC estimate that the confirmed figures represent only 45-65% of the actual death toll. This suggests the true number of Russian soldiers killed in the conflict could be significantly higher. The discrepancy arises from various factors, including underreporting by Russian authorities and the challenges of verifying deaths in active combat zones.

The increased losses come at a time when the US is actively pushing for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The Trump administration's involvement signals a renewed diplomatic effort to resolve the conflict, potentially leveraging economic or political incentives to bring both sides to the negotiating table. The precise details of the proposed peace deal remain undisclosed, but its emergence highlights the growing international concern over the war's human cost and geopolitical implications.

The use of AI in analyzing conflict data is becoming increasingly prevalent. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques, often powered by AI algorithms, are used to sift through vast amounts of data from social media, satellite imagery, and other sources to track troop movements, assess damage, and estimate casualties. These AI-driven analyses can provide valuable insights, but they also raise ethical considerations regarding data privacy, accuracy, and the potential for misuse.

The ongoing conflict and the efforts to achieve a peace deal represent a complex interplay of military, political, and technological factors. The rising death toll underscores the human cost of the war, while the US-led peace initiative offers a potential path toward de-escalation. The role of AI in analyzing the conflict highlights the evolving nature of warfare and the increasing importance of data-driven intelligence.