A Tragic Turn: The Death of Michael Alexander Gloss

In a shocking revelation, it has been reported that the son of CIA Deputy Director Julianne Gallina, Michael Alexander Gloss, lost his life while fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine. The investigative outlet IStories unveiled this story through a leaked database from a Moscow military recruitment center.

Gloss, just 21 years old, was killed on April 4, 2024, with his family being notified of his death by Russian authorities in October. His passing went largely unnoticed until an obituary surfaced, describing him as tragically killed in Eastern Europe. He was eventually laid to rest in his hometown of Fairfax, Virginia.

A Life Less Ordinary: From Activism to Conflict

Prior to joining the Russian military, Gloss had a colorful past. Known for his environmental activism, he left school to travel and was associated with the counter-culture group Rainbow Family, spending time in Turkey and Italy as a supporter of pro-Palestinian causes. His journey took a drastic turn when he arrived in Russia in August 2023, having obtained a visa in Turkey. Just a month later, he enlisted with a military recruitment center in Moscow.

Gloss trained briefly with Nepalese mercenaries before finding himself deployed to a paratrooper base in Ryazan. By December 2023, he was sent to eastern Ukraine as part of an assault unit. His last online activity was recorded in mid-March, just weeks before he was killed during offensive operations near Soledar, located in the Donetsk region.

Controversy Surrounding His Decision to Fight

According to IStories, Gloss was among over 1,500 foreign nationals from 48 countries enlisted in the Russian military since the onset of the Ukraine invasion in 2022. Friends and acquaintances expressed conflicting views, with some stating he never intended to engage in combat, while others suggested he may have succumbed to conspiracy theories that influenced his decision.

Despite this tragic turn, his obituary paints a picture of a young man committed to creating a better, fairer world, filled with peace and harmony. "He wanted the world to be a better place with more fairness, peace, and harmony with nature," it noted, leaving behind a complex legacy.