Russian Families Turn to AI Deepfakes for 225,000 War Dead as Grief Business Grows
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 13
Russian Families Turn to AI Deepfakes for 225,000 War Dead as Grief Business Grows
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 13
Summary
AI-generated videos of dead or missing Russian soldiers have spread across social media since mid-2025, letting families stage reunions, farewells and funeral messages for loved ones lost in Ukraine.
200-10,000 roubles buys a clip in Russia, where creators say most orders come from soldiers' relatives and one producer reported earning 150,000-200,000 roubles a month from the trade.
225,000 Russian military deaths have been verified by the BBC, Mediazona and volunteers, though the true toll is believed higher; many videos cast the soldiers as heroic protectors while omitting Ukraine's devastation.
10 million TikTok followers once watched influencer Katya Jin promote such videos using her missing husband's story, but she removed the content after BBC inquiries.
Researchers say the wartime deepfakes are part of a wider digital-afterlife industry, yet their psychological value remains unclear as some buyers call them comforting and others say they only deepen grief.
Are AI videos of fallen soldiers a comfort for families or a tool for war propaganda?
As AI resurrects the dead online, are we losing our ability to grieve naturally?
Deepfake Grief in Russia: The Rise, Ethics, and Impact of a $100 Million AI Afterlife Industry Amid War
Overview
Since mid-2025, Russia has seen the rapid rise of a 'grief business' built around AI-generated deepfakes of deceased soldiers. Families, facing a staggering number of military casualties, are increasingly commissioning digital resurrections of their loved ones to cope with loss. The low production costs of these AI deepfakes allow creators to earn substantial profits, with some individuals making double the average Russian wage. This booming industry highlights both the emotional needs of grieving families and the lucrative opportunities for AI creators, reflecting how technology and tragedy have combined to reshape mourning in Russia.