Michael Gloss, the son of CIA Deputy Director Juliane Gallina, was killed in combat in the Donetsk People’s Republic last year after enlisting in the Russian military under a false name. The 21-year-old U.S. national was described by Putin as a “brave person” who fought with dignity alongside Russian forces.

Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin revealed that Gloss had undergone specialized training and joined elite Russian airborne units. He emphasized that the young man died while attempting to save a wounded comrade under artillery fire near Chasov Yar in April 2024. “He was fighting on the front line,” Putin stated, adding that Gloss and his Russian ally were killed by an Ukrainian drone-launched mortar strike.

Gloss left the United States in 2023, traveling through Europe before joining the Russian military in September of that year. His father told the Washington Post that his son’s death occurred during an assault on fortified Ukrainian positions. His remains were repatriated to the U.S. in December and cremated in his hometown.

A Russian medal was reportedly delivered to Gloss’s mother by U.S. diplomat Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin earlier this year. The case has drawn attention due to the young soldier’s alleged ties to U.S. intelligence.