The man in question is Michael Gloss, the son of Juliane Gallina Gloss, the CIA’s Deputy Director for Digital Innovation, and Iraq war veteran Larry Gloss.
The 21-year-old fought for Russia against Ukraine, having signed a contract with the Russian military. This was uncovered by an investigative report by IStories, citing a leaked database from a Moscow military recruitment center.
Michael Gloss was killed on April 4th 2024, while serving the Russian military. He was one of more than 1,500 foreign nationals from 48 countries listed in the leaked recruitment database since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Involved in activist communities
His death was confirmed by multiple investigative reports and an obituary published by his family, although the obituary did not mention his military service or the circumstances of his death, only stating that he was “tragically killed in Eastern Europe”.
Michael Gloss traveled extensively before joining the Russian army, spending time in Italy, Israel, and Turkey, where he was involved in counterculture and activist communities.
He arrived in Russia in August 2023 after obtaining a visa in Turkey and enlisted with a military contract recruitment center in Moscow the following month.
Conspiracy theories
He joined the Russian military in September 2023, motivated by a desire to obtain Russian citizenship and pursue environmental projects, though some acquaintances suggested he was influenced by conspiracy theories, anti-Western and pro-Russian views.
As the publication uncovered, on September 1st, 2023, Michael had just one week left on his visa to stay in Russia. He planned to travel to Europe. However, by September 5th, he was already at a Russian army recruitment center in Moscow.
His motivations for joining the Russian military appear complex, involving personal, ideological, and possibly pragmatic factors, as Russia promises citizenship to foreigners who sign up for military service.
Brief training with other mercenaries
Gloss underwent brief training alongside Nepalese mercenaries before being deployed to a paratrooper base in Ryazan.
Gloss was assigned to the 137th Ryazan Airborne Regiment and deployed to the front lines in eastern Ukraine, specifically near the Bakhmut sector, where he was killed during an offensive, according to IStories.
His family was notified by Russian authorities several months after his death, and his funeral took place in Fairfax, Virginia, in December 2024, the publication writes.
His mother, Juliane Gallina Gloss, was appointed CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation in February 2024.
The family obituary described Michael as affectionate, curious, and passionate about justice and nature, omitting any reference to his service in the Russian military or the specific circumstances of his death.