Grinning in front of a Lenin statue with a peace-necklace slung around his neck, Michael Gloss looked every bit the wandering idealist—right before he signed up to fight for one of the most brutal regimes of the modern era. Image Credit: NBC News
In the annals of intelligence history, few stories are as bizarre and tragic as that of Michael Alexander Gloss. The 21-year-old son of Juliane Gallina, the CIA’s Deputy Director for Digital Innovation, met his end not in a quiet suburb or a college dorm, but on the blood-soaked battlefields of eastern Ukraine—fighting for Russia.
Yes, you read that right: the son of a top CIA official died in April 2024 while serving in the Russian military during its invasion of Ukraine.
Gloss’s journey from American youth to Russian soldier is a tale of ideological drift, personal turmoil, and the perils of online radicalization. Raised in Virginia by parents with deep military and intelligence backgrounds—his father, Larry Gloss, is a Navy veteran and cybersecurity expert—Michael was, by all accounts, a bright and compassionate young man. He was active in environmental causes and gender equality movements, and he volunteered in Turkey after the devastating 2023 earthquake.
From American Activist to Russian Soldier
Gloss grew up in the beating heart of America’s national security complex. You’d think that would bake a little patriotism into the kid, but not Michael. From a young age, he took a sharp left turn away from all that flag-waving nonsense. Instead, he threw himself headfirst into climate protests, environmental activism, and women’s rights. He enrolled in the kind of liberal arts colleges that treat “ecology” like a sacred word and spent his weekends with the Rainbow Family—a loose, peace-loving tribe of counterculture types who think showering is optional.
As he drifted through his late teens and early twenties, Michael’s worldview started to harden into something a lot less innocent. What started as healthy skepticism toward authority mutated into full-blown disillusionment. His social media feeds became a loudspeaker for anti-American rants, sympathy for Russia, and wild conspiracy theories painting NATO as some kind of Nazi reboot. Friends and family watched with growing concern as he tumbled deeper down the rabbit hole. Some chalked it up to his well-known mental health struggles, others just shook their heads and waited for the next Facebook meltdown.
Michael Gloss in DC. No need for a caption here. Image Credit: The Telegraph
In 2023, Michael decided he was done with the U.S. altogether. He dropped out of college and wandered across Europe and the Middle East. Eventually, he made his way into Russia. He told his folks he was just meeting up with friends, but it wasn’t long before his Instagram was lit up with photos from Moscow and hashtags rooting for the Russian military machine. So much for backpacking through Europe to “find yourself.”
By September, Gloss had gone native. He enlisted in the Russian army, signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense and landing in the 137th Ryazan Airborne Regiment—a far cry from the peaceful communes he used to daydream about. His goal, he said, was to earn Russian citizenship. He still clung to a grandiose dream of building water purification systems for the world’s poor, and for reasons that defy logic, he decided that Russia—of all places—was the right launchpad for his environmental crusade. Gloss told friends he’d be serving in a support role, far from the front lines. Reality, as it often does, had other plans.
In the annals of intelligence history, few stories are as bizarre and tragic as that of Michael Alexander Gloss. The 21-year-old son of Juliane Gallina, the CIA’s Deputy Director for Digital Innovation, met his end not in a quiet suburb or a college dorm, but on the blood-soaked battlefields of eastern Ukraine—fighting for Russia.
Yes, you read that right: the son of a top CIA official died in April 2024 while serving in the Russian military during its invasion of Ukraine.
Gloss’s journey from American youth to Russian soldier is a tale of ideological drift, personal turmoil, and the perils of online radicalization. Raised in Virginia by parents with deep military and intelligence backgrounds—his father, Larry Gloss, is a Navy veteran and cybersecurity expert—Michael was, by all accounts, a bright and compassionate young man. He was active in environmental causes and gender equality movements, and he volunteered in Turkey after the devastating 2023 earthquake.
From American Activist to Russian Soldier
Gloss grew up in the beating heart of America’s national security complex. You’d think that would bake a little patriotism into the kid, but not Michael. From a young age, he took a sharp left turn away from all that flag-waving nonsense. Instead, he threw himself headfirst into climate protests, environmental activism, and women’s rights. He enrolled in the kind of liberal arts colleges that treat “ecology” like a sacred word and spent his weekends with the Rainbow Family—a loose, peace-loving tribe of counterculture types who think showering is optional.
As he drifted through his late teens and early twenties, Michael’s worldview started to harden into something a lot less innocent. What started as healthy skepticism toward authority mutated into full-blown disillusionment. His social media feeds became a loudspeaker for anti-American rants, sympathy for Russia, and wild conspiracy theories painting NATO as some kind of Nazi reboot. Friends and family watched with growing concern as he tumbled deeper down the rabbit hole. Some chalked it up to his well-known mental health struggles, others just shook their heads and waited for the next Facebook meltdown.
Michael Gloss in DC. No need for a caption here. Image Credit: The Telegraph
In 2023, Michael decided he was done with the U.S. altogether. He dropped out of college and wandered across Europe and the Middle East. Eventually, he made his way into Russia. He told his folks he was just meeting up with friends, but it wasn’t long before his Instagram was lit up with photos from Moscow and hashtags rooting for the Russian military machine. So much for backpacking through Europe to “find yourself.”
By September, Gloss had gone native. He enlisted in the Russian army, signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense and landing in the 137th Ryazan Airborne Regiment—a far cry from the peaceful communes he used to daydream about. His goal, he said, was to earn Russian citizenship. He still clung to a grandiose dream of building water purification systems for the world’s poor, and for reasons that defy logic, he decided that Russia—of all places—was the right launchpad for his environmental crusade. Gloss told friends he’d be serving in a support role, far from the front lines. Reality, as it often does, had other plans.
The last months of Michael Gloss’s life were a grim contradiction. Here was a young man who once painted anti-war graffiti and raged against imperialism, now marching in formation for a country carpet-bombing its neighbor. Some said he was driven by idealism gone sour, others by untreated mental health issues. One of his fellow soldiers later said Gloss showed real passion for Russia and wanted desperately to be useful in the so-called “special military operation.” Passion and desperation, it turns out, make a lethal combination.
Michael Gloss died on the Ukrainian front lines in early April 2024. No, that’s not a typo; that was over a year ago. The circumstances are still murky, like just about everything in that meat grinder of a war. His family released a sanitized obituary, avoiding any mention of his Russian military service. The CIA, wisely, kept its mouth shut. At the end of the day, Gloss’s story is a tragic, tangled mess—a case study in how idealism, radicalization, and mental health struggles can turn a well-meaning activist into a footnote in someone else’s war.
The Aftermath and Unanswered Questions
The CIA has not commented on the situation, treating Michael’s passing as a private family matter. His obituary described him as having a “noble heart and warrior spirit,” omitting any mention of his involvement in the war.
Michael Gloss’s story is a dark reminder of the complexities of identity, ideology, and the consequences of radicalization. It’s a tale that challenges our understanding of loyalty and the unpredictable paths that individuals may take, even those from the most seemingly secure backgrounds.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
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Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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