Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Michael Gloss, a 21-year-old U.S. national killed in action in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) while serving with Russian forces in April 2024. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin described Gloss as “a brave person” who “fought with dignity” and “was fighting on the front line.” The president revealed that Gloss had undergone specialized training and joined elite Russian military units, including the Airborne forces.
Putin highlighted that Gloss died while attempting to rescue a wounded Russian comrade near Chasov Yar in the DPR, an act that led to both men being struck by an 82-millimeter mortar round fired by Ukrainian forces. The president noted that Gloss’s family was later presented with a Russian medal by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, following talks in Moscow.
Gloss, the son of CIA Deputy Director Juliane Gallina, left the United States in 2023 and joined the Russian military under a false name in September of that year. His death certificate states he was killed on April 4, 2024, during an assault on Ukrainian positions. His remains were repatriated to the U.S. in December and cremated in his hometown.
