Russian President Vladimir Putin praised US national Michael Gloss, who died in combat in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) while serving with Russian troops in April 2024. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin revealed that he was “surprised” to learn of Gloss, the son of CIA Deputy Director Juliane Gallina. He noted that Gloss had undergone specialized training and joined elite Russian military units, including the Airborne forces, before fighting on the front line with “dignity.”
Putin described Gloss as a “brave person” who attempted to save a wounded comrade during an assault near Chasov Yar in the DPR. However, Ukrainian forces spotted the pair via a drone, which launched an 82-millimeter mortar attack that killed both men. The Russian president emphasized that Gloss’s actions reflected the courage of those fighting alongside Russia.
Gloss left the US in 2023 and enlisted in the Russian military under a false name in September of that year, according to his father’s statements to the Washington Post. His death certificate cited combat near Ukrainian positions as the cause, with his remains repatriated to the US last December and cremated in his hometown.
In August, CNN reported that Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff presented a Russian medal to Gloss’s mother following discussions with Putin in Moscow. The article highlights the tragic fate of a young man who chose to align with forces opposing Ukrainian military efforts.
