Russian Families Use AI to Create Memorial Videos of Soldiers Killed in Ukraine

Russian families have commissioned AI-generated photos and videos depicting soldiers killed in Ukraine since mid-2025. The clips typically show uniformed men embracing relatives before ascending into a blue sky or appearing as protective ghosts. " The woman in the scene, pushing a stroller, embraces a soldier modeled on Jin's missing husband.

Katya Jin maintained accounts with 10 million TikTok followers and 50,000 Instagram followers. She posted AI videos alongside tutorials on how to create them until she removed the material after BBC Russian first reported her activity. Anna Korableva from Kamensk-Uralsky began producing similar "Farewell video" content with her sister in May 2025.

She said most orders come from families of soldiers killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. "In the first months of working on these videos, I cried almost every day," Korableva told the BBC. "Over time, I learned to separate my emotions from work.

The BBC, together with Russian news outlet Mediazona and volunteers, has verified at least 225,000 Russian soldier deaths in the war. The real toll is believed to be higher. Prices for the AI content range from 200 roubles to 10,000 roubles.

Creator Ulyana Lebed, whose husband is serving, reported monthly earnings of 150,000 to 200,000 roubles. " One woman who bought an AI photo of her late husband for his headstone said the image did not help her accept that she would never hug her son again. " A third woman wrote beneath a video: "Thank you, AI, for this opportunity to be with my loved one.