A Texas man who fled the United States with his family to avoid what he called “LGBTQ indoctrination” has reportedly found himself on the front lines of Russia’s war in Ukraine — and now his family is claiming they were misled.
According to The Daily Beast, Derek Hauffman moved to Russia with his wife and children seeking a new life, one free of what he referred to as Western “propaganda.” He signed up for the Russian military hoping to fast-track citizenship for his family — but instead of the welding job he was promised, he was allegedly deployed to active combat with little preparation or training.
Wife Says He’s Untrained, Underpaid, and Now Facing War
In a now-deleted YouTube video, Hauffman’s wife, DeAnna, shared their family’s ordeal, tearfully asking for prayers and saying her husband is “being thrown to the wolves.”
“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,”
DeAnna explained that Derek has no prior military experience and that his training was entirely in Russian, which left him confused and unprepared for what he’s now facing on the battlefield. Despite signing up under the impression he would serve as a welder, Derek has reportedly been sent straight to the front lines, and the family says they haven’t received any compensation beyond his initial month of service.
He Said He Wanted “Respect” in Russia — Now He’s at War
Before joining the Russian military, Derek gave an interview to RIA, a Russian state media outlet, in which he explained why he left America and joined the Russian army:
“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 handout,”
Now, that dream has quickly unraveled, with his wife claiming they were misled and used as propaganda pieces to show Westerners embracing Russian ideals.
Faith Over Facts: Family Leans on Prayer as Uncertainty Mounts
Despite the danger and silence from the Russian military about Derek’s real assignment, DeAnna says the family is holding onto faith. But she’s also made it clear that they feel exploited — used for a narrative, then discarded when reality hit. “We haven’t been paid, he’s on the front lines, and we don’t know what will happen next,” DeAnna reportedly said before removing the YouTube video.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have made no comment about Derek’s deployment, and it remains unclear if the family will ever receive the citizenship or stability they hoped for when fleeing the U.S.