‘Touching stories’ Russians use AI tool to generate ‘farewell videos’ featuring soldiers killed in the war with Ukraine

An online service that uses AI to generate “farewell videos” of soldiers killed in the war in Ukraine has been gaining popularity among Russian users, the Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Novosti reported on Wednesday.

A social media page called “Final Meeting” hosts dozens of these videos. According to the channel, each one depicts a soldier embracing a loved one or relative before walking up a staircase toward heaven, disappearing, or transforming into a bird. The posts also include brief biographies of the deceased.

The price of the videos depends on their complexity, including the number of people featured, the background, and the actions shown. Prices start at around 1,500 rubles ($18.50). For example, a video of a soldier walking up the stairs after a hug costs about 2,000 rubles ($25), while one that includes a kiss starts at 3,500 rubles ($43). Additional Photoshop work is charged separately.

For 3,000 to 4,000 rubles, customers can add voiceovers that use the “real voice” of the deceased to read a personalized message. Due to high demand, the creators warn that orders are currently accepted only through a waiting list, with expedited requests available for an extra fee.

The “Final Meeting” project was created in May 2025 by a 36-year-old named Anna K. from the city of Kamensk-Uralsky. She told Ostorozhno, Novosti that people most often use her service to order “touching stories” such as “video farewells” or videos of themselves hugging their childhood selves. “These are always very deep, personal projects,” she said.