Overview

• Michael Gloss, the son of a senior CIA official, joined the Russian military in September 2023 and was killed in Donetsk, Ukraine, on April 4, 2024, during frontline combat.
• The CIA issued a rare statement confirming his death in Ukraine but did not specify his allegiance, describing the loss as a private family tragedy rather than a national security issue.
• Gloss's radicalization reportedly stemmed from online conspiracy theories, anti-American sentiments, and support for a 'multipolar world' narrative often promoted by Russian propaganda.
• He traveled through Europe and Turkey in 2023, participating in eco-activism and relief efforts, before entering Russia and joining the 137th Ryazan Airborne Regiment to allegedly pursue Russian citizenship.
• His parents, unaware of his enlistment until after his death, expressed disbelief and devastation, while his obituary omitted references to his military service or the war.