Texan Dad Moves Family to Russia to Escape ‘Woke America’ – Ends Up Near Ukraine Front Line
Well, this took a turn.
Derek Huffman, a 46-year-old father from Texas, decided the good ol’ U.S. of A. had become a bit too liberal for his liking. So, he packed up the wife, their three daughters, and even the family husky (because of course the husky came) and moved to Russia earlier this year in search of “shared values” — and, presumably, less rainbow-themed math homework.
They settled in Istra, a sleepy little town about 25 miles from Moscow, courtesy of Russia’s “shared values” visa. That’s the one where Putin basically says, “Tired of woke? We’ve got snow, onions, and military conscription.”
Now, Derek didn’t move there expecting to become Rambo. He signed up for the Russian military thinking he’d be, say, welding tank parts or possibly blogging from a safe bunker — not actively dodging artillery. But according to his wife, DeAnna, Derek’s job description shifted faster than an Uber route during surge pricing.
Despite having no military background and only a sprinkle of Russian skills, Derek has now found himself posted “near” the front lines of the Ukraine war. His training? Limited. His language comprehension? Also limited. His morale? Well, let’s just say it’s leaning heavily on faith — and probably some YouTube survival videos.
In a vlog, DeAnna put it like this: “Unfortunately, when you’re taught in a different language, and you don’t understand the language, how are you really getting taught?” Fair question. It’s hard enough learning military procedures — let alone in Cyrillic.
“He feels like he’s being thrown to the wolves,” she added. Which is Russian for: This was not the plan.
The last anyone heard from Derek was back in June, when he sent a Father’s Day video. Dressed in camo, looking like someone who just realized he should’ve read the fine print, Derek told his family he missed them, hoped to get a vacation soon, and that he believed in what he was doing. It was heartfelt, if not a little unsettling.
Since then? Radio silence. The family says he’s “doing fine,” though a now-deleted link from their YouTube channel led to a Telegram group ominously titled “Save that little girls” — with a photo of DeAnna and the daughters crying in the street. The message read: “We are asking the United States government to save this family.”
So… things may not be going super great.
Their move to Russia was sparked by frustration with progressive education in the States. After moving from Arizona to Texas, the Huffmans became alarmed when their daughter Sophia came home with questions about, as Mr. Huffman put it, “lesbians.” That was the final straw. (Some families get upset over algebra grades; this one moved to another hemisphere.)
After a sightseeing trip to Moscow in May 2023 — where, apparently, the streets were clean and the gender roles neatly defined — the family decided this was home. Derek even made it clear he didn’t want a handout — he wanted to earn his place in Russia. Through military service. Which, in hindsight, might’ve been a bit too literal.
“If I risk myself for our new country,” Derek said, “no one will say I’m not a part of it.” Except maybe the Russians training him entirely in a language he doesn’t speak.
DeAnna has since revealed that he wasn’t supposed to be sent to the front lines this quickly. “He was told two weeks of training and no combat,” she said. “Now, it’s more like one week — and then off to the action.”
She’s now vlogging solo, trying to hold down the fort, raise the kids, and survive the Russian suburbs, which probably aren’t known for having a Chick-fil-A drive-thru. She’s admitted it’s been harder than expected — being alone, dealing with the culture shock, and missing her husband who is now… well, definitely not welding.
The family settled in an “American village” — a compound for like-minded U.S. expats founded by blogger Tim Kirby. But according to reports, only two families actually live there. So… more of an “American cul-de-sac” at this point.
The bottom line? What started as a move for values, tradition, and maybe a bit less CNN has turned into something far more complicated — with Derek now in harm’s way, the family under stress, and their YouTube followers wondering how this all became an accidental geopolitical subplot.
No word yet on if they’re planning a move back. But we imagine they’re rethinking the old saying: “The grass is always greener on the other side”… unless that grass comes with conscription paperwork.