logo
Father who fled US for Russia reportedly deployed to front line

Father who fled US for Russia reportedly deployed to front line

Daily Mail​22-07-2025
A Texan father who uprooted his family to Russia in a bid to escape 'woke America' has reportedly been sent to the front lines of the brutal war in Ukraine to fight for Putin. Derek Huffman (pictured), 46, moved with his wife DeAnna, their three daughters and the family husky to the small town of Istra, near Moscow, earlier this year after claiming the US had become overrun by 'woke ideology'.
The family took advantage of a Kremlin-backed visa programme aimed at attracting Westerners who reject liberal ideals - something Mr Huffman called 'a fresh start in a country that respects family vaules'. But the American expat's dream of a quieter life in Russia has taken a dramatic turn. Initially promised a non-combat role in the Russian military - first as a welder, then a war correspondent - Mr Huffman now finds himself alarmingly close to the battlefield, according to his wife.
DeAnna Huffman said her husband felt he was being 'thrown to the wolves' given that he had only received a limited amount of training, and that it was in Russian. She added that her husband, who only had minimal instruction before being deployed, is 'leaning on faith' to survive, as the family awaits news in fear. The last message they received from him came on Father's Day in June. In a video clip, Mr Huffman appears in full camouflage, speaking directly to his children.
'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.' Since then, there's been silence. The family insists he is 'doing fine', but a now-deleted link on their YouTube channel directed followers to a Telegram group titled Save that Little Girls where an emotional photo of DeAnna and her daughters crying in the street was posted alongside a plea - 'We are asking the United States government to save this family.' It remains unclear who created the group.
The Huffmans' controversial decision to flee America came after growing frustration with progressive teachings in schools. After a move from Arizona to Texas, Mr Huffman said he was horrified when his daughter Sophia was expected to discuss lesbian relationships at school - a moment he called the 'final straw'. 'She didn't fully understand it, but for us, that was enough to realise something had to change,' Mr Huffman told Russia Today.
A scouting trip to Moscow in 2023 sealed the deal. The couple claimed Russia felt cleaner, safer, and more in tune with their values. Upon arrival, they were quickly embraced by state-affiliated media and even settled into an expat commune known as the 'American Village', established by pro-Kremlin US blogger Tim Kirby.
But now, DeAnna says he was misled. '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 said. '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.'
It comes after Russia's wartime toll of dead and wounded reached a historic milestone last month. According to the British Ministry of Defence, more than one million Russian troops have been killed or injured since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022. The estimate aligns with a recent study by the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, which puts Russian military deaths at up to 250,000 and total casualties, including the wounded, at over 950,000.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Italy to tell EU terms for UniCredit's BPM bid remain despite deal collapse
Italy to tell EU terms for UniCredit's BPM bid remain despite deal collapse

Reuters

time3 hours ago

  • Reuters

Italy to tell EU terms for UniCredit's BPM bid remain despite deal collapse

ROME, July 29 (Reuters) - Italy will tell the European Union the terms it imposed on UniCredit's bid for Banco BPM remain in place even after the collapse of the deal, sources said, responding to criticism from Brussels that could ultimately lead to disciplinary steps. UniCredit ( opens new tab withdrew its offer for BPM ( opens new tab on July 22, blaming government intervention for scuppering the 15 billion-euro ($17.3 billion) transaction. Days earlier, the European Commission warned Italy that it could have breached EU rules by using its so-called golden powers aimed at shielding key assets to rein in UniCredit's takeover plans, giving Rome 20 working days to reply to its objections. Italy will send a letter of reply to Brussels as early as this week which will invoke national security considerations for the use of the golden powers, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The European Commission was not immediately available for comment. In the letter Italy will also say it has no plans to withdraw the decree that set the conditions for the collapsed deal, arguing that their legitimacy was largely upheld by an Italian court ruling this month, the sources added. Among several conditions, Italy told UniCredit it had to halt activities in Russia, except for payments to Western companies, by early 2026, to prevent savings collected by Banco BPM from benefiting Moscow's economy as it continues its war against Ukraine. The court ruling due to be referenced in the letter to Brussels axed some of the terms imposed by the government, but upheld the Russia-related conditions. Italy also asked UniCredit to keep investments in Italian securities of BPM-owned fund manager Anima Holding ( opens new tab, a provision that UniCredit said the court had made non-mandatory. While the EU said corporate mergers should be vetted at the EU level to prevent member states taking unjustified measures in their regard, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti argued national security was not for European institutions to judge. Should the government fail to persuade the European Commission that its use of the golden power rules was justified, Brussels could adopt a decision ordering it to revoke the conditions. Italy's use of its 'golden power' legislation is also under EU scrutiny in a separate process called EU Pilot. ($1 = 0.8672 euros)

Watch as paranoid Putin is escorted by anti-drone rocket launcher on walkabout after fearful despot cancelled ‘Navy Day'
Watch as paranoid Putin is escorted by anti-drone rocket launcher on walkabout after fearful despot cancelled ‘Navy Day'

Scottish Sun

time4 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Watch as paranoid Putin is escorted by anti-drone rocket launcher on walkabout after fearful despot cancelled ‘Navy Day'

PARANOID Vladimir Putin has been captured on video getting escorted by an anti-drone rocket launcher on a walkabout after the fearful despot cancelled "Navy Day". Unbelievable footage shows a security service operator threateningly holding the drone interceptor in position as the dictator freely strolls around. 10 Footage emerged of a security service operative holding a Yolka drone interceptor Credit: East2West 10 Another Russian agent is seen carrying Vladimir Putin's suspected nuclear briefcase, used to launch an atomic strike on enemies Credit: East2West 10 Footage shows a Yolka drone interceptor in action Credit: East2West 10 It's thought the footage was taken on Victory Day on May 9 The agent appears to be holding a 'fire and forget' Yolka - used to down incoming explosive unmanned planes. A video appears to show the suited secret serviceman clutching the ready-to-use kinetic interceptor that's shielded slightly by a bag. Dictator Putin is meanwhile glad-handing military personnel in the famous Red Square, Moscow, reportedly on Victory Day two months ago. Another agent is even seen carrying Putin's suspected nuclear briefcase - used to launch an atomic strike on enemies. The bizarre security measure has exposed Putin's paranoia as Ukraine continue to bravely fight back against Russian blitzes. Separate footage shows how the hand-released Yolka - a compact, quadcopter-style drone - is used to destroy military drones. The video comes after mad Vlad cancelled the annual Russian naval parade on Sunday last-minute as he feared Ukrainian drone strikes. Instead, more modest events were staged with Putin's involvement. The Kremlin defended the decision had been taken for 'security reasons' amidst the bloody war with Ukraine. Ukraine has managed to destroy over a third of Russia's combat fleets in the Black Sea since Putin's invasion in 2022 as well as eliminating over a million soldiers. Putin strikes Ukraine maternity ward in another outrageous snub to Trump Russia's event is often touted as an opportunity for Putin to show off his military might through a warship parades. The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation first announced the cancellation online as they said: "The Kremlin can no longer pretend that the war doesn't affect Russia's home front. "The war impacts all areas of life in Russia, even symbolic and high-profile events like the navy parade. "Today, Russian warships cannot feel safe even on their own territory. "Against this backdrop, the news that Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, will be decommissioned and scrapped is especially telling." Work on the hulking aircraft carrier was suspended earlier this month with reports suggesting the vessel is doomed for the scrapheap. Ukraine has systematically laid waste to Putin's naval forces since 2022 in kamikaze drone and missile attacks. In 2024, Putin's newest and only remaining missile cruiser in the Black Sea was destroyed by Ukraine forces. 10 The interceptor followed Vlad around Credit: East2West 10 The destroyer is pointed at drones Credit: East2West 10 It comes as Putin mysteriously cancelled his annual naval parade at the last-minute Credit: AFP 10 The 'Zyklon' was taken out alongside the 266-M minesweeper, Kovrovets, in a devastating ATACMS missiles strike. Its sinking was part of Ukraine's ongoing campaign targeting the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Last April, Ukraine's Navy said it had struck the salvage ship Kommuna - the oldest ship still serving in the Russian Navy. Ukraine's top brass say they have decimated 34 per cent of the Black Sea Fleet's 184 warships had been disabled. Trump slashes 50-day peace deadline DONALD Trump slashed the 50-day deadline for Vladimir Putin to cut a peace deal down to just the end of next week. Trump slammed the tyrant - who has not taken Trump's peace efforts seriously - saying he was "very disappointed" with him during a press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland yesterday. The US President said Putin's new deadline had been reduced down to "10 to 12" days from Monday, which would be August 6 to 8. He said: "I'm disappointed in President Putin, very disappointed in him. "So we're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number." He later clarified saying: "I'm going to make a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today. There's no reason in waiting, we just don't see any progress being made." Trump said that the US would do secondary sanctions on Russia - slapping sanctions on those who buy oil from Moscow. But that could all be avoided if Putin cuts a peace deal - which Trump thinks could still happen. 10 A Russian rocket boat and other warships float past drawbridges above the Neva River ahead of the 2022 parade Credit: AP

Watch as paranoid Putin is escorted by anti-drone rocket launcher on walkabout after fearful despot cancelled ‘Navy Day'
Watch as paranoid Putin is escorted by anti-drone rocket launcher on walkabout after fearful despot cancelled ‘Navy Day'

The Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Sun

Watch as paranoid Putin is escorted by anti-drone rocket launcher on walkabout after fearful despot cancelled ‘Navy Day'

PARANOID Vladimir Putin has been captured on video getting escorted by an anti-drone rocket launcher on a walkabout after the fearful despot cancelled "Navy Day". Unbelievable footage shows a security service operator threateningly holding the drone interceptor in position as the dictator freely strolls around. 10 10 10 The agent appears to be holding a 'fire and forget' Yolka - used to down incoming explosive unmanned planes. A video appears to show the suited secret serviceman clutching the ready-to-use kinetic interceptor that's shielded slightly by a bag. Dictator Putin is meanwhile glad-handing military personnel in the famous Red Square, Moscow, reportedly on Victory Day two months ago. Another agent is even seen carrying Putin's suspected nuclear briefcase - used to launch an atomic strike on enemies. The bizarre security measure has exposed Putin's paranoia as Ukraine continue to bravely fight back against Russian blitzes. Separate footage shows how the hand-released Yolka - a compact, quadcopter-style drone - is used to destroy military drones. The video comes after mad Vlad cancelled the annual Russian naval parade on Sunday last-minute as he feared Ukrainian drone strikes. Instead, more modest events were staged with Putin's involvement. The Kremlin defended the decision had been taken for 'security reasons' amidst the bloody war with Ukraine. Ukraine has managed to destroy over a third of Russia's combat fleets in the Black Sea since Putin's invasion in 2022 as well as eliminating over a million soldiers. Russia's event is often touted as an opportunity for Putin to show off his military might through a warship parades. The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation first announced the cancellation online as they said: "The Kremlin can no longer pretend that the war doesn't affect Russia's home front. "The war impacts all areas of life in Russia, even symbolic and high-profile events like the navy parade. "Today, Russian warships cannot feel safe even on their own territory. "Against this backdrop, the news that Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, will be decommissioned and scrapped is especially telling." Work on the hulking aircraft carrier was suspended earlier this month with reports suggesting the vessel is doomed for the scrapheap. Ukraine has systematically laid waste to Putin's naval forces since 2022 in kamikaze drone and missile attacks. In 2024, Putin's newest and only remaining missile cruiser in the Black Sea was destroyed by Ukraine forces. 10 10 The 'Zyklon' was taken out alongside the 266-M minesweeper, Kovrovets, in a devastating ATACMS missiles strike. Its sinking was part of Ukraine's ongoing campaign targeting the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Last April, Ukraine's Navy said it had struck the salvage ship Kommuna - the oldest ship still serving in the Russian Navy. Ukraine's top brass say they have decimated 34 per cent of the Black Sea Fleet's 184 warships had been disabled. Trump slashes 50-day peace deadline DONALD Trump slashed the 50-day deadline for Vladimir Putin to cut a peace deal down to just the end of next week. Trump slammed the tyrant - who has not taken Trump's peace efforts seriously - saying he was "very disappointed" with him during a press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland yesterday. The US President said Putin's new deadline had been reduced down to "10 to 12" days from Monday, which would be August 6 to 8. He said: "I'm disappointed in President Putin, very disappointed in him. "So we're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number." He later clarified saying: "I'm going to make a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today. There's no reason in waiting, we just don't see any progress being made." Trump said that the US would do secondary sanctions on Russia - slapping sanctions on those who buy oil from Moscow. But that could all be avoided if Putin cuts a peace deal - which Trump thinks could still happen. 10 10

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store