AI farewells for Russia’s dead soldiers

In a haunting exploration of grief and digital illusion, BBC's The Fifth Floor reveals a disturbing trend on Russian social media: families of soldiers fighting in Ukraine are commissioning AI-generated videos that depict their loved ones as heroic, angelic figures ascending to heaven or reuniting in idyllic, alternate realities. These 'digital resurrection' videos—often featuring soldiers who are still alive—allow families to simulate peaceful reunions during holidays like Christmas or New Year’s, creating a surreal emotional refuge from the war’s harsh realities. While some viewers interpret these videos as quiet acts of protest against the war, others see them as part of a broader cultural effort to sanitize the conflict, avoiding any mention of Ukraine or the invasion’s moral cost. The phenomenon is driven by a network of AI artists, many of whom are themselves spouses or relatives of soldiers, suggesting a deeply personal and collective emotional economy. Meanwhile, in West Papua, a documentary titled *Pesta Babi* (Pig Feast) has sparked controversy after being quietly canceled at multiple screenings, despite no official ban. The film exposes decades of military oppression, land theft, and failed government-led farming projects that have devastated indigenous communities. Though the government denies censorship, intimidation and cancellations have only fueled public curiosity, turning the film into a forbidden symbol of resistance.