A Texas man who moved to Russia in search of "traditional values" has found himself preparing for frontline combat in Ukraine after enlisting in the Russian military under the promise he would not be sent into battle.
Derek Huffman, who relocated with his wife, DeAnna, under Russia's new "Shared Values" visa program, said he joined the military with the understanding he would serve as a war correspondent or vehicle mechanic. The visa initiative allows foreigners disillusioned with their home countries to seek residency in Russia if they align with the Kremlin's stated moral and spiritual principles.
But Huffman, drawn in part by a generous signing bonus and a desire to "demonstrate his value" to his new country, is now undergoing expedited combat training ahead of deployment to Ukraine.
"He feels like he is being thrown to the wolves right now, and he is kind of having to lean on faith," DeAnna Huffman said in an interview.
In a video recorded last month, Derek Huffman cited both financial incentives and ideological alignment as reasons for his enlistment. He believed the move would provide stability and a sense of purpose.
Russia's military has increasingly turned to foreign recruits amid manpower shortages, despite official claims that volunteers are not deployed into direct combat without consent. Huffman's case raises questions about the transparency and ethics of such recruitment efforts.
The Kremlin has not commented on Huffman's reassignment.
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