Latest news with #DeAnna
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wife Says Anti-Woke American Dad Who Joined Russian Army Is ‘Alive and Doing Well'
The wife of Derek Huffman, who earlier this year relocated his family from Texas to Russia to escape 'LGBT indoctrination'—and was sent last month into active duty fighting in Ukraine—has released an update on her husband's combat experience. In the comment section of a July 15 YouTube video updating viewers about her family's life in Russia, DeAnna Huffman said that her husband is alive and healthy. 'He's not missing. Or ever was,' DeAnna wrote, responding to rumors that he was missing in action. She said that she spoke to him on the phone the night before the video was posted. 'All I can say is he's alive and doing well. Thank you for your support.' While she maintained that she couldn't share any specific information about Derek's whereabouts, she did claim that he is located 'not [at] the absolute front, but close to it.' DeAnna, 42, is a former teacher and floral designer while Derek, 46, formerly worked in welding and construction. The couple share three daughters. DeAnna has fastidiously documented the family's move from the US to Moscow online, frequently posting videos of their new life based in 'traditional values.' Their YouTube account, Huffman Time, has 11,000 followers. Derek enlisted in the Russian military in May, hoping to expedite his path to citizenship, but was surprised to find in June that he was being moved into a combat role. The former handyman has no military experience and had expected to serve as a war correspondent or welder. In a YouTube video from May, Derek addressed people who 'might think [he's] crazy.' 'A big part of it for me is respect and earning our place in Russia. If you think about America, people just come on in and are given everything, and they don't assimilate,' he said. 'They're just there for the free handouts.' His wife described the move to the frontlines as challenging in a since-deleted video, saying that the family is 'believing in God that everything will work out how it's supposed to.' In a June interview with Russia Today, DeAnna framed his choice to fight as a way to 'stand up for what he believes in and fight for a cause he supports.' It's unknown exactly how many American citizens have joined Russia's brutal war efforts against Ukraine, but in February 2024 the Washington Post estimated that at least 50 Americans had died fighting in the war on behalf of Ukraine. In April that year, a Texas native who had previously fought for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine was killed during fighting in the Russia-occupied territory of Donetsk. His wife claimed that he had been abducted by Russian soldiers, while authorities claimed he had gone missing. An American think-tank estimated in June that 250,000 Russian troops have been killed during the war, alongside about 100,000 Ukrainian troops. Putin's army has been accused of war crimes in Ukraine by the International Criminal Court, including the mass abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia and the intentional bombing of hospitals and schools. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Woke U.S. Dad Who Joined Putin's War Machine ‘Blown Away by Hate'
A Texas dad who moved his family to Russia to escape what he called 'LGBT indoctrination' is now stunned that his service in Vladimir Putin's army has elicited 'hatred' from critics. Derek Huffman, a 46-year-old former construction worker, made headlines earlier this year when he uprooted his wife and three young daughters for a new life in Moscow, leaving Texas in search of more 'traditional values.' In May, he joined the Russian military in the hopes of fast-tracking citizenship. By June, the new recruit was a little surprised to be heading for a combat role on the front lines in Ukraine. Earlier this month, Huffman was rumored—without evidence—to have been killed by a Ukrainian drone strike. A Maltese site even dubiously claimed he was 'confirmed dead,' citing unnamed footage it did not share. The reports were false, as Huffman revealed in a recorded phone call from July 25 and posted two days later on his and wife DeAnna's YouTube channel, Huffman Time. But the reports of his death and the jubilant response from some critics rattled Huffman. 'I'm just blown away at the level of hate,' he told DeAnna. 'I'm only doing what I feel is right... but the level of hate for Russia is insane.' Huffman appeared particularly shocked that the false news of his death had been met with open celebration on social media. 'Shame on all these people,' he said. 'They're saying they're glad I'm dead... I'm serving my military with honor.' The couple, who chronicle their new life in Russia online, were quick to dismiss the drone strike rumors as clickbait. '[It] is just publicity seeking,' Huffman claimed. In the same conversation, he pushed back on criticism that his Christian faith clashed with his decision to join a military accused by the International Criminal Court of war crimes—including forcibly deporting Ukrainian children and bombing hospitals. 'I don't relish the idea of taking life,' Huffman said. 'But I'm doing what I feel is right. People ought to try that sometimes.' The Huffmans, once a suburban family in the American South, now promote their brand of 'traditional values' from behind enemy lines on YouTube, where DeAnna, a former teacher and floral designer, shares videos about their Russian relocation and his military service. In a video from May, Derek addressed people who 'might think [he's] crazy.' 'A big part of it for me is respect and earning our place in Russia. If you think about America, people just come on in and are given everything, and they don't assimilate,' he said. 'They're just there for the free handouts.' His wife described the move to the frontlines as challenging in a since-deleted video.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Thrown to the wolves': American moves family to Russia to 'escape wokeness' — finds himself at the frontline fighting Ukraine war
(Photo: X) 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo 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.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Woke Dad Who Fled With Family to Russia Sent to War Zone
An American father who moved to Russia to avoid LGBTQ+ 'indoctrination' for his kids is being sent to the front line in Ukraine, despite being assured he would serve in a non-combat role. Derek Huffman, 46, feels he is being 'thrown to the wolves' after being told that his job in the military would be as a correspondent or as a welder, his wife, DeAnna, said in a recorded plea for prayers, which has since been removed from her YouTube page. Huffman has no prior military experience, DeAnna said, adding that his limited training was conducted in Russian. She suggested the language barrier has made her husband particularly unprepared for the horrors of combat. 'Unfortunately, when you're taught in a different language, and you don't understand the language, how are you really getting taught?' she pondered. '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.' Huffman joined the military in the hope of gaining Russian citizenship for his family through an expedited process. He also felt such service would allow him to 'earn' the respect of his new countrymen, which is something he once said migrants in the United States refuse to do. 'The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,' he told Russian state media last month. '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.' Undocumented migrants cannot join the U.S. military during peacetime. A program launched by former President George W. Bush allowed such immigrants to seek citizenship by serving in the military, but that pathway was shuttered during President Donald Trump's first term. DeAnna, 42, suggested her husband had been misled during the military recruiting process. She added that, after a month of service, her family had yet to receive any pay. '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.' We're the Huffman family — Americans who moved to Russia 2 months ago! Derek (46) has a background in welding & construction, DeAnna (42) is a former teacher & floral designer, and we're raising our 3 daughters (12, 11 & 10) while embracing a whole new life, language, and culture — The Huffman Family (@HuffmanTime) May 21, 2025 Huffman moved his family to a village outside Moscow in spring. It was launched by American blogger Tim Kirby—who has lived in Russia for two decades—in 2023 to attract Americans seeking to escape the 'liberal gender norm.' That project has been a flop, with United24Media reporting that only two families, including the Huffmans, have moved in. Huffman, a native Texan, brought his wife, three daughters, and their family Husky, 'Baby,' with him to Russia. The couple also have three sons from prior marriages who opted to remain in the United States. Huffman's admiration for Russia runs deep. The Russian state-operated news agency RIA Novosti reported last month that the couple honeymooned in Moscow. 'The city charmed us with its rich history, vibrant culture, and welcoming atmosphere,' DeAnna told the outlet. 'Before that, we figured out whether moving to Russia would fit our family's needs and values. However, it wasn't until we saw Moscow in person that we truly felt a connection.' DeAnna said that she was not surprised that her husband wanted to volunteer for the Russian military, even as it is in its third year of a bloody war with Ukraine. Ukrainian officials estimated this week that more than 1 million Russian soldiers have died in the conflict, which continues to rage on despite President Trump's demands for peace. 'It didn't come as a surprise to me,' she said of his joining the military. 'He always spoke so highly of the country, its president, and its people, and he has a strong passion for doing the right thing.'
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
American father-of-three who joined Russian army to escape ‘woke' US has been sent to the frontlines, wife says
A Texas father-of-three who moved his family to Russia and joined the military to escape 'wokeness' in the US has been sent to the frontlines of Moscow's meat grinder, his wife said. Derek Huffman, 46, claimed he was being tossed under the bus after being deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine despite assurances from the Russian military that he would be serving in a non-combat role, his wife DeAnna said in a now deleted YouTube page, according to the Telegraph. '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 of her husband's situation. 4 Texan Derek Huffman moved to Russia together with his family to escape 'wokeness' in the US. X / HuffmanTime 4 Huffman went on to join the Russian military, where he was allegedly promised a non-combat role, only for him to be deployed to the frontlines, his wife claims. YouTube / HuffmanTime The Huffmans had moved to Russia in March, with the father-of-three celebrating what he called an escape from the LGBTQ 'indoctrination' in America. He was one of two families who reportedly answered American blogger Tim Kirby's invitation to move to a village outside Moscow to be free of the 'liberal gender norm.' To secure an expedited citizenship process for his family and to earn the respect of his new countrymen, Huffman told Russian state media that he would gladly join the military. 'The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,' he told state media last month. 4 Huffman claimed he was happy to enlist in the army to expedite his citizenship process and earn the respect of his new countrymen. '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 added. DeAnna, however, claims he was misled during the military recruitment process, where Russian officers allegedly promised him a role as a welder or war correspondent. Instead, Huffman, who has no prior military experience, underwent training in a language he did not understand and was shipped off to fight in the frontlines, where hundreds of Russian troops are killed every week. 4 His wife, DeAnna, said her husband has no prior military experience and received little training by the time he learned he would be deployed to fight Ukraine. YouTube / HuffmanTime 'Unfortunately, when you're taught in a different language, and you don't understand the language, how are you really getting taught?' DeAnna pointed out. 'You're not.' '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,' she added. The confused wife also claimed that even after a month of service, the family has yet to receive any of the wages promised to Huffman. Huffman was last seen on his family's social media accounts during a Father's Day message to his wife and kids in June, which showed him wearing camouflage and speaking to them directly. '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,' he added.
