U.S. father, escaped to Russia, now deployed to Ukraine's battlefront
In early 2025, Derek Huffman, a 46-year-old man from Texas, made a significant life change. He moved his family to Istra, a small town near Moscow, Russia, in search of traditional values and a escape from American "woke" policies.
Derek's family, including his wife DeAnna and their three daughters, started a YouTube channel named 'Huffman Time' to document their life in Russia. The channel also featured videos of Derek's military service, which became part of Russian propaganda contexts.
Derek applied for a visa under the Russian "Shared Values" scheme, which aims to welcome those who wish to escape the destructive neoliberal ideological agenda. As part of this process, Derek joined the Russian military, expecting a non-combat welding role. However, his training was cut short, and he was sent to infantry combat training and deployed to Ukraine's front lines after only about three weeks of limited training.
DeAnna expressed concerns about her husband being "thrown in front of wolves," as he was a civilian in a combat zone. Despite the unexpected circumstances, Derek maintained faith and a desire to return safely to his family.
There were false reports of Derek's death from a Ukrainian drone strike, which he confirmed were untrue during a July 2025 phone call shared on their YouTube channel.
In summary, Derek Huffman's experience in Russia includes: - Moving his family to Russia for cultural and ideological reasons. - Applying for residency through a "Shared Values" visa program. - Joining the Russian military primarily to speed up citizenship. - Undergoing brief military combat training and being sent to front-line infantry duty. - Documenting family life and vlogging on YouTube amid propaganda exposure. - Facing unexpected combat deployment rather than the welding job he expected. - Derek's combat training was very basic, and he was taught in a language he did not understand.
This unexpected turn of events has brought attention to the experiences of foreigners who move to Russia under the "Shared Values" scheme and join the military. The scheme, which is part of President Vladimir Putin's cultural concept, welcomes those who seek traditional values and wish to escape the destructive neoliberal ideological agenda. However, the reality of military service and combat deployment may not always align with the expectations of these individuals.
- Derek and his family, now residing in Russia, use their YouTube channel, 'Huffman Time', to share their experiences, including Derek's military service, which has become part of Russian propaganda contexts.
- Despite joining the Russian military to expedite his residency, Derek, a civilian, found himself deployed to Ukraine's front lines after only three weeks of limited training.
- The attention on Derek's unexpected military service under the Russian "Shared Values" scheme highlights the disparity between the traditional values sought and the reality of military service and combat deployment for foreigners moving to Russia.
