IIRC Soyuz "return to earth" trips don't actually need that much fuel other than for the initial departure from the ISS - it gets a trifle bumpy for the meat sacks, but is entirely survivable; the capsule is designed "self right" on re-entry and, as long as the parachutes work, the crew get away alive...
This has been tested...I can't remember which one it was, but there was a fairly recent return to sender that came in a bit hot because (many)things didn't work as expected on the way back.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
