Key facts
- AI-generated videos and photos are being used by Russian families to create posthumous tributes for soldiers killed in the Ukraine war.
- These digital 'afterlives' offer a way to cope with grief and 'unfinished farewells.'
- The AI content typically portrays soldiers as heroes, omitting the realities of the war.
- The practice has sparked debate regarding its ethical implications and psychological impact on the grieving process.
- Some AI creators are generating significant profits from this content.
Russian families are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create digital 'afterlives' for loved ones killed in the war in Ukraine. These AI-generated photos and videos, often posted on social media, portray soldiers as heroes and offer a way for grieving relatives to cope with loss and 'unfinished farewells.'
Since mid-2025, AI-generated clips featuring Russian servicemen have gained popularity, particularly among relatives seeking to commemorate fallen soldiers. These creations typically omit the destruction caused by the invasion and often depict soldiers embracing loved ones before ascending to heaven. Some families have even used deepfakes at funerals.
Blogger Katya Jin's AI-generated video of a soldier returning home, modeled on herself and her husband whose fate is unknown, exemplifies the trend. Similarly, Anna Korableva's 'Farewell video' project aims to help people reconnect with deceased husbands, parents, and children. Most requests come from families of soldiers killed in Ukraine, where the BBC and Mediazona have verified over 225,000 Russian soldier deaths, with the actual toll believed to be higher.
The cost of such AI content in Russia ranges from 200 to 10,000 roubles, with some creators like Ulyana Lebed earning substantial profits, approximately double the average monthly wage. This commercialization of grief has drawn criticism, with some users calling the practice unethical.
Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska, a researcher at Cambridge University, notes that these AI creations are part of a broader 'digital afterlife' industry. While acknowledging their potential to help some process loss, she highlights the ethical complexities and the uncertainty surrounding their long-term psychological impact. Some individuals who commissioned these videos reported that they did not alleviate their pain, describing them as an 'illusion.' However, others expressed gratitude for the opportunity to feel connected to their departed loved ones, even within a virtual context.