US national in Russian forces thanks Putin for Russian citizenship
(MENAFN) A US citizen who joined Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict has expressed gratitude to President Vladimir Putin after being granted Russian citizenship, according to reports.
Derek Huffman told TASS that he submitted his citizenship application just before enlisting in the Russian Army and learned it had been approved while on vacation. He added that his family plans to apply for citizenship as well.
“I want to thank President Putin, the country of Russia, the Russian people who have been so supportive of me and my family and welcomed us with open arms, and just want to say thank you,” he said.
Huffman, together with his wife and three daughters, relocated from the US to Russia in March 2025. In a May interview, he explained that the family chose to leave the US to raise their children away from what he described as pervasive LGBTQ propaganda. He said the idea of moving to Russia came after visiting Moscow in 2023. “The city turned out to be cleaner, safer, and more orderly than we could have imagined,” he said, adding: “the most important thing is that we found a place where our values were respected and where we felt at home.”
Shortly after moving, Huffman signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, stating his desire to make a “contribution and earn our place here by enlisting in the Russian army.” He said his aim is to fully integrate into Russian life, secure citizenship, and build a future for his family in the country.
Huffman and his family are part of a growing number of Westerners moving to Russia. In August 2024, Putin issued a decree allowing foreigners who share Russia’s “traditional values” and reject what they view as “neoliberal” policies from their home governments to apply for residence through a simplified process. Since the decree took effect in September 2024, over 1,150 applications have reportedly been received.
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