Latest news with #Istra
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The 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 5 5 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. 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 5 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".
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Father who fled US for Russia reportedly deployed to front line
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.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Father-of-three who fled to Russia to escape 'woke' America 'is sent to the front line to fight for Putin'
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, 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. The community, founded as a haven for Americans disillusioned with liberal gender norms, has only attracted two families to date - the Huffmans among them. Mr Huffman was eager to prove his loyalty, insisting he was not searching for handouts. 'The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,' he said. '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'. 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. In just over three years, Russian fatalities are estimated to be five times higher than the combined death toll from all Soviet and Russian wars between the end of the second world war and the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The family's attempt to escape cultural tensions in the West has led them into the heart of a geopolitical warzone, and with no updates since June, they are left clinging to hope. 'Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined,' she confessed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Father who moved family to Russia to escape ‘woke' America is sent to front line
A Texan father who moved his family to Russia to escape 'woke' America has been sent to the front line. Derek Huffman, 46, relocated to the small town of Istra, around 25 miles from Moscow, with his wife, their three daughters and their husky earlier this year. They did this through Russia's 'shared values' visa scheme, aimed at attracting foreigners who reject what Vladimir Putin calls 'destructive neoliberal ideology'. Mr Huffman had initially agreed to join the Russian military in a non-combat capacity, thinking at first he would be a welder and later a war correspondent. But despite having no experience as a soldier and limited understanding of the Russian language, he has been sent 'near' the front line in the war with Ukraine, 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. 'Unfortunately, when you're taught in a different language, and you don't understand the language, how are you really getting taught?' she pondered in a vlog uploaded to the family's YouTube channel. '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.' Mr Huffman's last message came in June, marking Father's Day in the US. Wearing camouflage and military gear, he appeared in a one-minute video addressed to his family. '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.' 'Save this family' Since then, there have been no new images or videos of Mr Huffman. The family commented on their YouTube channel that he was 'doing fine'. However, a link on their channel, which has since been deleted, directed users to a Telegram group titled 'Save that little girls'. Created on Sunday, the group contained one message: 'We are asking the United States government to save this family,' along with a photo of Mrs Huffman and her daughters crying in the street. It is unclear if the family created the group. The Telegraph has contacted the Huffmans for comment. Their move to Russia was prompted by their dissatisfaction with what they saw as progressive overreach in the American education system. After relocating from Arizona to Texas, they were disturbed when their daughter Sophia was expected to speak about lesbian topics at school. '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,' Mr Huffman told Russia Today. A trip to Moscow in May 2023 convinced the family that Russia offered the traditional values they desired. 'The city was cleaner, safer, and more orderly than we ever imagined. Most importantly, we found a place that respected our values – where we finally felt at home,' Mr Huffman continued. Upon arriving in Russia, the family were featured in several state-affiliated media outlets, where they described their move as a rejection of Western cultural values. Mr Huffman said he wanted to earn his place in Russian society not via handouts but through service. 'The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,' he said. '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.' But Mrs Huffman has since claimed her husband 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.' Mrs Huffman said in her vlog: '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. 'Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined,' she said. The Huffmans settled in an 'American village', a settlement in Istra created by US expat and blogger Tim Kirby, who has lived in Russia for two decades. It was founded in 2023 as a refuge for Americans fleeing what Mr Kirby described as 'liberal gender norms'. However only two families, including the Huffmans, are known to have moved there, according to a report by United24Media. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Father who moved family to Russia to escape ‘woke' America is sent to front line
A Texan father who moved his family to Russia to escape 'woke' America has been sent to the front line. Derek Huffman, 46, relocated to the small town of Istra, around 25 miles from Moscow, with his wife, their three daughters and their husky earlier this year. They did this through Russia's 'shared values' visa scheme, aimed at attracting foreigners who reject what Vladimir Putin calls 'destructive neoliberal ideology'. Mr Huffman had initially agreed to join the Russian military in a non-combat capacity, thinking at first he would be a welder and later a war correspondent. But despite having no experience as a soldier and limited understanding of the Russian language, he has been sent 'near' the front line in the war with Ukraine, 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. 'Unfortunately, when you're taught in a different language, and you don't understand the language, how are you really getting taught?' she pondered in a vlog uploaded to the family's YouTube channel. '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.' Mr Huffman's last message came in June, marking Father's Day in the US. Wearing camouflage and military gear, he appeared in a one-minute video addressed to his family. '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.' 'Save this family' Since then, there have been no new images or videos of Mr Huffman. The family commented on their YouTube channel that he was 'doing fine'. However, a link on their channel, which has since been deleted, directed users to a Telegram group titled 'Save that little girls'. Created on Sunday, the group contained one message: 'We are asking the United States government to save this family,' along with a photo of Mrs Huffman and her daughters crying in the street. It is unclear if the family created the group. The Telegraph has contacted the Huffmans for comment. Their move to Russia was prompted by their dissatisfaction with what they saw as progressive overreach in the American education system. After relocating from Arizona to Texas, they were disturbed when their daughter Sophia was expected to speak about lesbian topics at school. '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,' Mr Huffman told Russia Today. A trip to Moscow in May 2023 convinced the family that Russia offered the traditional values they desired. 'The city was cleaner, safer, and more orderly than we ever imagined. Most importantly, we found a place that respected our values – where we finally felt at home,' Mr Huffman continued. Upon arriving in Russia, the family were featured in several state-affiliated media outlets, where they described their move as a rejection of Western cultural values. Mr Huffman said he wanted to earn his place in Russian society not via handouts but through service. 'The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,' he said. '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.' But Mrs Huffman has since claimed her husband 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.' Mrs Huffman said in her vlog: '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. 'Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined,' she said. The Huffmans settled in an 'American village', a settlement in Istra created by US expat and blogger Tim Kirby, who has lived in Russia for two decades. It was founded in 2023 as a refuge for Americans fleeing what Mr Kirby described as 'liberal gender norms'.
