'Thrown to the wolves': American moves family to Russia to 'escape wokeness' — finds himself at the frontline fighting Ukraine war

An American man who left US in search of traditional values has ended up on the front lines of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Derek Huffman moved with his wife and three daughters from Texas to a village outside Moscow earlier this year, reports New York Post.


Huffman hoped to raise his family away from what he described as the “wokeness” and “LGBTQ indoctrination” of the US education system.

However, he now finds himself near the front lines, despite initially being promised a non-combat role. Huffman had joined the Russian military to secure fast-tracked citizenship.


Huffman's wife, DeAnna, said in a YouTube video that he was misled during the recruitment process. The video is now deleted from social media.

“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,” she said. She added that he had no military experience and was trained in Russian, which he barely understands.

“Unfortunately, when you’re taught in a different language, and you don’t understand the language, how are you really getting taught? You’re not,” she said.

The family had moved to Istra, about 25 miles from Moscow, under Russia’s “shared values” visa scheme. The family was among only two known to have relocated to the so-called “American village,” a settlement created by US expat and blogger Tim Kirby to attract Westerners tired of liberal norms.

What was the final straw that made the Huffmans leave US?

Their decision to move followed an incident at their daughter’s school in the US. “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 realise something had to change,” Huffman was quoted as saying by Russia Today.

The family was later featured in several Russian state-affiliated media outlets, where Huffman said he wanted to earn respect through military service. “The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia. 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,” he said.

Despite these intentions, DeAnna now claims that her husband was offered roles such as a welder or war correspondent but was instead rushed through training and sent to the battlefield. She also said the family has yet to receive any of the promised military wages.

Father’s Day video message

In June, Huffman appeared in a Father’s Day video message wearing camouflage. “I miss you all more than you can imagine,” he told his family. “Just know I will do whatever it takes to be safe and to come home to you. Take care of each other.”

A Telegram group titled “Save that little girls” was recently linked to the family’s deleted channel, calling on the US government to intervene.

“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,” DeAnna said. “Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined.”