Right-Wing Americans Chase a Putin Dream, Reality Intervenes
Three U.S. families who relocated to Russia seeking a conservative utopia found life far from idyllic: the Hares faced housing trouble, shifting family dynamics, and a failed business, with Leo staying in Russia while his wife left and two older children returned to the U.S.; the Huffmans’ son Derek enlisted and became a propaganda figure for the Kremlin as his wife begged for help; Canadian farmers the Feenstras struggled with language, sanctions freezing funds, and mounting disappointment before moving back to Canada; the piece notes Russia’s program has drawn few Western emigrants (about 99 Americans by mid-2025) and serves more as propaganda than a viable settlement, highlighting how self-reliance collapses when basic needs aren’t met.
