Latest news with #DeAnna
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- 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
11 hours ago
- 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.
New York Post
13 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
American dad DUPED into fighting on Russian frontlines after family fled US
An American dad has been duped into fighting on the front lines of Russia's army. Derek Huffman and his wife, DeAnna, moved their three daughters, ages 10, 11 and 12, across the globe to avoid 'woke ideology" in the US in March. He joined the Russian military in the hopes of expediting citizenship for his family. Despite being assured he would serve a non-combat role – either as a welder or a correspondent – his wife DeAnna claimed in a since-deleted YouTube video that he's being 'thrown to the wolves.' Here's everything we know about the 'anti-woke' family who fled the US to Russia – and the dangerous turn of events they didn't see coming.
Int'l Business Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
American Who Moved His Family to Russia to Dodge 'Woke' US Policies Finds Himself On Front Lines in Ukraine: 'Thrown to the Wolves'
A Texas man who moved his family to Russia hoping to dodge what he called "woke" American policies has been sent to the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Derek Huffman, 46, planned to join the military in a non-combat role as a welder after moving to Russia earlier this year with his wife and three children. However, his wife said that he has since ended up on the front lines after after joining the Russian military to help speed up his track to citizenship, Euromaiden Press reported. In a now-deleted video to the family's YouTube page, where Huffman and his wife DeAnna post about their life living in Russia, DeAnna asked for prayers after revealing where her husband was told he was "going straight to the front lines" after completing limited training in Russian, according to the Daily Beast. "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," DeAnna said. The family previously shared a clip of Derek in his military attire from Father's Day, in which he shared he was hoping for a "vacation" soon. "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," he said. "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." On their social media pages, the Huffman family has praised a program by American media personality Tim Kirby allowing Americans to move to the country. He previously called Russia "a country that respects family values" after claiming that "woke ideology" was taking over the U.S., as reported by the Daily Mail. Meanwhile, DeAnna shared that her family allegedly has not been paid yet for Derek's time in the military. Originally published on Latin Times
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
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'
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. 5 Texan Derek Huffman, 46, has been sent to the front line by Vladimir Putin after moving his family to Russia Credit: YouTube/@HuffmanTime 5 Derek with his young family in Moscow Credit: YouTube/@HuffmanTime 5 Derek's wife DeAnna says her partner has been 'thrown to the wolves' Credit: YouTube/@HuffmanTime 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. read more in Russia Derek applied via the 'shared values' visa scheme which attempts to 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. Most read in The US Sun 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. How Putin is 'weaponising Westerners' by offering safe haven to Russia-obsessed crackpots including Brits 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". 5 Derek speaks no Russian and was given very little combat training before being shipped out Credit: YouTube/@HuffmanTime 5 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 Credit: AP 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". Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined DeAnna Huffman 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. 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", 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".
