Dad who moved family to Russia to flee ‘woke' West is sent to front line – as wife says he's been ‘thrown to the wolves'

The Sun

22-07-2025

A TEXAN dad has been sent to the front line by Vladimir Putin after he moved his young family to Russia to escape "woke" America.
Derek Huffman, 46, has been "thrown to the wolves" by the deranged Russian wartime regime with his family now reportedly begging the US government to save him.
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Derek uprooted his home life and jetted off to the small town of Istra, just 25 miles from Moscow, alongside his wife, their three daughters and their husky earlier this year.
The Texan, along with wife DeAnna, decided to move to Russia after claiming the US education system had become too progressive.
The couple said the final straw was when their daughter Sophia was taught about the idea of being a lesbian at school.
A trip to Moscow in 2023 later convinced the family that Russia was the perfect place to bring up their children in a traditional society.
Derek applied via the 'shared values' visa scheme which attempts to attract foreigners who reject "destructive neoliberal ideologies" Putin claims are pushed by the West.
The family made the move and expected to start their dream lives.
But Derek soon found himself in trouble after he agreed to join the Russian military in a non-combat capacity.
He believed he would be given a role such as a welder or a war correspondent due to his lack of experience as a soldier.
But DeAnna revealed in a vlog uploaded to the family's YouTube channel that her husband has now been drafted to "near" the front line as a fully fledged fighter.
The heartbroken wife says she fears for Derek's life as he doesn't speak any Russian and had only been given a limited amount of training.
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She said: "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."
Since being deployed to fight against Ukraine, Derek has only been able to speak to his loved ones on a handful of occasions.
His last message came in June, on Father's Day in the US, as he spoke to his family while wearing camouflage and military gear.
He held back tears as he said: "I miss you all more than you can imagine.
"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."
In the months since, the family have only said he is "doing fine".
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And amid the lack of information, a mystery Telegram group has been set up titled: "Save that little girls."
The group was shared by the family online but the link has been deleted since.
Created only on Sunday, the sole message from the account said: "We are asking the United States government to save this family."
It was shared along with a picture of DeAnna and her daughters crying in the street.
Derek happily signed up for the military when he first arrived as he wanted to show his appreciation for his new country by "risking his life".
He claimed he wanted to "earn a place in Russia" without being given free handouts.
But DeAnna has since claimed her husband was seriously misled.
She said: "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.
"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."
The terrified mom added: "It's been just a few months since our family made the big move from America to Russia.
"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."
How Putin is 'weaponizing Westerners' by offering safe haven to Russia
TYRANT Putin has changed Russian immigration laws to tempt people to ditch the West and seek asylum in his country with "traditional values".
He signed a decree to streamline the Russian immigration process - waiving off immigration quotas and the need for Russian language exams - for foreigners opposed to the Western idea of democracy.
The dictator recently passed a law allowing foreign nationals who fight in his meatgrinder war in Ukraine to seek fast-track citizenship in Russia - along with their entire family.
Moscow has said that many families in the West, including Brits, are answering Vladimir Putin's call to move to Russia.
Reports by the Russian embassy in London claim at least at least 34 people have requested to move to Russia from the UK after Putin signed the decree on August 19.
Those who applied have not had to prove they can speak Russian or have any knowledge of the 'history and fundamentals of Russian legislation", The Telegraph reports.
Putin's new tactic has already paved the way for American citizen Leo Lionel, his wife Chantel Felice Haer and their three children, aged 16, 14, and 11.
Lionel said: "Personally I want to thank your President Putin for allowing Russia to become a good place for families in this world climate.
"We intend to use this opportunity to benefit our family. I feel like I've been put in an arch of safety. And it's very important."
Canadian passport holder Arend Feinstra with his wife also left their country and moved to Russia with their eight children.
He said of his move: "We didn't feel safe with our children there and for the future."
The grandson of the French war hero Charles de Gaulle last year said he wanted Russian citizenship because the country offered "great possibilities".