Overview

• Derek Huffman moved his wife and three daughters from Texas to Istra under Russia’s “shared values” visa designed to attract Westerners rejecting liberal norms.
• He enlisted expecting a non-combat role and fast-tracked citizenship despite having no prior military experience and only basic Russian-language training.
• His last video update came on Father’s Day in June, and since then the family reports no contact, no salary payments and a demand that he cover 10,000 roubles for supplies.
• The Russian military has sent him near the Ukrainian front line with scant preparation, leading his wife to warn he’s been “thrown to the wolves.”
• The Huffmans briefly created a Telegram plea titled “Save the little girls,” appealing directly for US government intervention to secure his safe return.