The son of CIA Deputy Director Juliane Gallina died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, revealing a young man’s radical transformation from environmental activist to enemy combatant.
At a Glance
- Michael Gloss, 21, son of CIA Deputy Director Juliane Gallina, was killed fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine in April 2024
- Before joining Russia’s military, Gloss was an environmental student who was once detained at a climate protest in Washington DC
- He traveled through Europe adopting a medieval persona before entering Russia via Georgia in August 2023
- Gloss expressed increasing anti-American sentiments and a desire for “blood and glory” before joining the 137th airborne regiment
- His family held a funeral in Virginia eight months after his death, omitting his Russian military service from the obituary
From Environmental Activist to Russian Soldier
Michael Gloss, the 21-year-old son of CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Juliane Gallina and US Navy veteran Larry Gloss, died fighting for Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine on April 4, 2024. His journey from an American college student focused on environmental causes to a soldier in the Russian military represents a dramatic transformation that culminated in his death on a foreign battlefield.
The young man’s life trajectory took a series of unexpected turns that led him away from his prestigious American family background and into the ranks of what the US government considers an adversarial military force.
In 2021, Gloss enrolled at the College of the Atlantic in Maine, an institution known for its focus on environmental studies and natural sciences. His initial passion appeared to be environmental activism, and in 2022, he was detained at a climate protest in Washington, DC.
However, his political views began to shift dramatically. He developed increasingly critical views of the United States political system and became influenced by various conspiracy theories, setting him on a path that would lead him far from his American roots.
Radicalization and Path to Russia
Gloss’s disillusionment with America deepened over time. He shared images of himself making obscene gestures toward the White House and posted videos of a burning American flag. His online activity revealed growing anti-American sentiments, along with criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and beliefs about a future dominated by BRICS nations. In a telling social media post from May 2023, Gloss wrote: “I find myself more and more alive by the minute. Hungry for blood and glory.”
Before joining Russian forces, Gloss traveled extensively through Europe and Turkey, reportedly adopting a medieval persona during his wanderings. He associated with the “Rainbow Family,” a counter-culture group, before crossing into Russia via Georgia in August 2023.
By September 2023, he had formally joined the Russian military with the aim of obtaining Russian citizenship. Records show he appeared in Russia’s Unified Medical Information and Analytical System, listed at an Army recruitment point in Moscow, where he was photographed in military fatigues and a red keffiyeh at the Avangard training center.
Military Service and Death in Ukraine
Gloss was assigned to the 137th Ryazan Airborne Regiment, where he trained alongside a group primarily consisting of Nepalese nationals. A fellow soldier identified only as “Peter” noted that Gloss had “his own vision of how he could be useful at the front” with a background in construction and engineering. By December 2023, Gloss had confirmed his presence in Russia to friends but did not mention his military activities. That same month, he was reportedly “sent to the assault units” with his regiment deployed to the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
The exact circumstances of Gloss’s death remain unknown, but reports indicate it coincided with an offensive by his division in April 2024. His last access to the Telegram messaging service was recorded in March 2024, shortly before his death on April 4. In a twist of timing, his mother, Julianne Gallina, had been appointed CIA deputy director for digital innovation in February 2024, just weeks before her son was killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, a nation receiving substantial American military support.
A Family’s Silent Grief
Eight months after Gloss’s death on the battlefield, his family held a funeral in Fairfax, Virginia, on December 21, 2024. Reports suggest his family was only informed of his death two months prior to the funeral. The obituary carefully focused on his love for nature and omitted any mention of his involvement with the Russian army, describing him instead as someone “with his noble heart and warrior spirit” who “was forging his own hero’s journey when he was tragically killed in Eastern Europe.”
The tragic story of Michael Gloss represents an extraordinary case of an American citizen – the son of high-ranking intelligence and military parents – who chose to fight for a foreign adversary. His journey from environmental activist to Russian soldier highlights the complex interplay of disillusionment, radicalization, and the search for identity that led a young man from a prestigious American background to die fighting against the interests of his home country.
