Anti-woke Texan who moved to Russia sent to the front

A Texas father who uprooted his family from the United States to Russia has unexpectedly been sent to the front lines of the war with Ukraine, despite having little military experience. Derek Huffman, 46, left the U.S. after growing frustrated with what he called “woke” American values, only to find himself serving in the Russian military under challenging circumstances.

Texas father relocates family to Russia

Derek moved with his wife DeaAnna, their three daughters and their husky to the town of Istra, located roughly 25 miles from Moscow. The family relocated using Russia’s “shared values” visa program, which targets foreigners who reject what President Vladimir Putin describes as “destructive neoliberal ideology.” Initially, Derek agreed to join the Russian military in a non-combat role. He expected to start as a welder and eventually work his way up to become a war correspondent. However, despite having no prior military experience and limited Russian language skills, Derek was deployed “near” the front line in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Family’s YouTube plea 

DeaAnna Huffman shared her husband’s struggles in a heartfelt vlog on their family’s YouTube channel. She revealed Derek felt “thrown to the wolves” after receiving only minimal training, all conducted in Russian. “Unfortunately, when you’re taught in a different language, and you don’t understand the language, how are you really getting taught?” she asked rhetorically. “You’re not. So, unfortunately, he feels like he’s being thrown to the wolves right now, and he’s kind of having to lean on faith, and that’s what we’re all doing.”

Derek’s last message

Derek’s last known public message was posted on American Father’s Day. In a brief video, dressed in camouflage, he expressed his longing for his family. “I miss you all more than you can imagine,” he said. “I can’t wait to see you, hopefully I get a vacation at some point and I get to go home and spend a couple of weeks with you. … But man, you’re on my mind 24/7 and just know that what I’m doing is important to me and important to our family. Just know I will do whatever it takes to be safe and to come home to you. Take care of each other.” Though there has been no public update from Derek since then, his family assured their YouTube followers that he is “doing fine.”

Why Texas father left America

The Huffman family’s move to Russia stemmed from dissatisfaction with progressive influences in the U.S. education system. After moving from Arizona to Texas, they became alarmed when their daughter Sophia was expected to learn about certain topics at school. “The final straw was when we found out my daughter Sophia learnt about lesbians from a girl in her class. She didn’t fully understand it, but for us, that was enough to realize something had to change,” Derek told Russia Today. A family visit to Moscow in May 2023 led them to believe that Russia aligned more closely with their traditional values. “The city was cleaner, safer and more orderly than we ever imagined. Most importantly, we found a place that respected our values – where we finally felt at home,” Derek said.

Claims of being misled by Russian military

Upon arrival, Derek hoped to integrate into Russian society through service rather than handouts. “The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,” he said. “If I risk myself for our new country, no one will say that I am not a part of it. Unlike migrants in America who come there just like that, do not assimilate, and at the same time want free handouts.” However, DeaAnna now claims Derek was misled about his military role. “When he signed up and had all of that done, he was told he would not be training for two weeks and going straight to the front lines,” she explained. “But it seems as though he is getting one more week of training, closer to the front lines, and then they are going to put him on the front lines.” In her vlog, she reflected on the challenges they have faced since moving. “It’s been just a few months since our family made the big move from America to Russia, and while we’ve had amazing adventures, this journey has also brought deep challenges. … Being alone in a new country, raising kids and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined.”

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