Rising Russian Combat Deaths Spark Concerns of Escalation.

The rate of Russian combat deaths in Ukraine has increased in recent months, with an estimated 20,000 Russians killed in action since December alone, according to the White House. The rise in casualties comes as Kyiv plans a counteroffensive to retake occupied territory, which could lead to even more carnage. The Ukrainian military has suffered heavy losses, with up to 17,000 soldiers killed in action since Putin's invasion began a year earlier. The battle for Bakhmut has been especially brutal, with Russian forces augmented by tens of thousands of private paramilitary fighters and prison convicts.