Russian families are turning to AI-generated videos to recreate moments with loved ones killed or missing in the Ukraine war, creating digital versions of soldiers that critics say risk becoming a disturbing illusion. The technology, which has spread across Russian social media since mid-2025, allows relatives to animate photographs of deceased family members and create fictional reunions, farewell messages and scenes of soldiers returning home.
The trend has grown as thousands of Russian families continue to deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, where many servicemen have been killed or remain missing.
