Putin Honors CIA Official's Son Posthumously Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

In a controversial gesture, President Putin has presented an award intended for the family of a U.S. soldier slain in Ukraine, as diplomatic tensions over the war remain high.

During a recent trip to Moscow, President Vladimir Putin bestowed the Order of Lenin on Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, to be given to the family of Michael Gloss, a 21-year-old who was killed while fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine. This event occurred amidst ongoing discussions between Putin and Trump about potential resolutions to the Ukraine conflict.

Gloss, a son of Juliane Gallina, the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation, was reported dead in April 2024, a circumstance that came to light following coverage in Russian media. Notably, he had previously enlisted with Russian forces in 2023 and had publicly supported Russia's actions, describing the Ukraine conflict as a "proxy war."

Despite Gloss having mental health struggles and not being an official CIA employee, the award has sparked debates regarding the Kremlin's awareness of his familial connections. With reports emerging about the impending summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the atmosphere between the two nations remains charged.

Gloss's family, including his father Larry Gloss, expressed concerns about the potential ramifications of his involvement in the war and the possibility of being used for propaganda purposes. In light of Gloss's tragic story, both the White House and the CIA have refrained from commenting on the award or its implications, while the Kremlin's acknowledgment of the posthumous honor remains ambiguous.