Russian families use AI to ‘resurrect’ loved ones killed in Ukraine

A 15‑second AI clip recently posted by a popular Russian blogger shows a husband in battle uniform embracing a smiling wife on a snowy street. The pair are modelled on the blogger and her husband, who vanished on the front and has no confirmed death certificate. The video, like many others, is showcased as a post‑humous reunion for grieving relatives.

AI‑generated images and videos of Russian troops have surged on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok since mid‑2025. They portray soldiers as heroes, sometimes as angels, while omitting Ukraine’s destruction. Many Ukrainians who have seen the videos have expressed outrage, calling the depictions a dishonoured attempt to glorify the war.

For some families, these deepfakes serve as a coping mechanism. A creator who once made a video of her husband’s return has said she feels more able to emotionally separate from the loss after seeing the animation. Others claim the effect is minimal; one woman said the AI‑generated photo of her husband's headstone did not ease grief.

The production cost of such videos ranges from 200 roubles to 10,000 roubles. The quality is uneven; some clips exhibit missing limbs or distorted faces. A few creators have earned up to 200,000 roubles a month, far above the average Russian wage, sparking accusations that they profit from tragedy.

Ethicists caution that the use of posthumous avatars is a cultural experiment fraught with moral ambiguity. A researcher at Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence noted that deploying dead soldiers as digital “heroes” can deepen grief or, conversely, interfere with public perception of the war.

Some recipients have stated the videos awaken a sense of connection with the deceased: one woman posted a thank‑you note “for this opportunity to be with my loved one.” Others echo that digital content is too much of an illusion, unable to replace the real embrace or the finality of loss.

While demand for AI‑generated memories remains high among families of soldiers killed since 2022, hostility is growing in Ukraine, where the technology is seen as a sham that glorifies the attacker. Critics argue the practice encourages the creation of a digital afterlife that may distort the realities of war and compromise the grieving process.