In a surprising gesture, Russian President Vladimir Putin has conferred the Order of Lenin upon Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, intended for a senior CIA official whose son was slain while fighting in Ukraine. This event transpired during Witkoff's recent visit to Moscow, where discussions on a possible end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine were underway, as reported by BBC's partner CBS.
Michael Gloss, at the age of 21, lost his life in Ukraine in 2023. He was the offspring of Juliane Gallina, the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation. The awarding of the Order of Lenin—a prestigious award from the Soviet era that honors exceptional service to the state—comes alongside confirmation of an upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska next Friday to deliberate over the future of the Ukraine situation. However, neither the Russian government nor its foreign ministry has publicly recognized this honorary award given to Gloss after his death.
Reports suggest uncertainty about the award’s fate, with the CIA, the White House, and Witkoff remaining tight-lipped following inquiry. Gloss' death first made headlines in Russian media back in April. A CIA announcement later indicated that Gloss dealt with mental health issues, asserting that his passing posed no national security threat. Despite being a combatant for Russian forces, sources clarify that Gloss was never formally associated with the CIA.
There are indications that the Kremlin may not have been fully aware of Gloss's familial links. Prior to his involvement in the conflict, he had openly shared supportive images of himself at Moscow's Red Square on platforms, framing the Ukraine conflict as a "Proxy war" and disparaging Western media narratives about it. An obituary released in November 2024 confirmed that he was "killed in Eastern Europe" on April 4 of that year.
The CIA's remarks about his death globally recognized the "unimaginable personal tragedy" faced by Gallina and her family. Gloss's father, Larry Gloss, an Iraq war veteran, recounted the difficulty of having their son repatriated and expressed concern that his identity might be exploited by foreign entities. He emphasized the long-term struggles with mental illness that Michael had faced throughout his life, highlighting the family's prolonged anguish over the incident.
Michael Gloss, at the age of 21, lost his life in Ukraine in 2023. He was the offspring of Juliane Gallina, the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation. The awarding of the Order of Lenin—a prestigious award from the Soviet era that honors exceptional service to the state—comes alongside confirmation of an upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska next Friday to deliberate over the future of the Ukraine situation. However, neither the Russian government nor its foreign ministry has publicly recognized this honorary award given to Gloss after his death.
Reports suggest uncertainty about the award’s fate, with the CIA, the White House, and Witkoff remaining tight-lipped following inquiry. Gloss' death first made headlines in Russian media back in April. A CIA announcement later indicated that Gloss dealt with mental health issues, asserting that his passing posed no national security threat. Despite being a combatant for Russian forces, sources clarify that Gloss was never formally associated with the CIA.
There are indications that the Kremlin may not have been fully aware of Gloss's familial links. Prior to his involvement in the conflict, he had openly shared supportive images of himself at Moscow's Red Square on platforms, framing the Ukraine conflict as a "Proxy war" and disparaging Western media narratives about it. An obituary released in November 2024 confirmed that he was "killed in Eastern Europe" on April 4 of that year.
The CIA's remarks about his death globally recognized the "unimaginable personal tragedy" faced by Gallina and her family. Gloss's father, Larry Gloss, an Iraq war veteran, recounted the difficulty of having their son repatriated and expressed concern that his identity might be exploited by foreign entities. He emphasized the long-term struggles with mental illness that Michael had faced throughout his life, highlighting the family's prolonged anguish over the incident.
