(MENAFN) A US citizen who joined Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict has expressed gratitude to President Vladimir Putin after being granted Russian citizenship.

Derek Huffman told reports that he had submitted his citizenship application just before enlisting in the Russian military and discovered it was approved while he was on vacation. His family also plans to apply for citizenship.

“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, along with his wife and three daughters, relocated from the US to Russia in March 2025. He previously told media that the move was motivated by a desire to raise his children away from what he described as pervasive LGBTQ propaganda in the US.

The idea of relocating to Russia arose after a visit to Moscow in 2023. “The city turned out to be cleaner, safer, and more orderly than we could have imagined,” Huffman said, adding, “the most important thing is that we found a place where our values were respected and where we felt at home.”

After settling in Moscow, Huffman signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, explaining that he wanted to contribute and integrate by serving in the Russian army. His aim is to fully adapt to life in Russia, obtain citizenship, and establish a stable future for his family.

Huffman’s move is part of a broader trend of Westerners relocating to Russia in recent years. In August 2024, President Putin issued a decree allowing foreigners who share Russia’s “traditional values” and reject “neoliberal” policies from their home countries to apply for residency through a simplified procedure. Since the decree took effect in September 2024, authorities have received over 1,150 applications.

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