Moscow, Aug 11: Russian President Vladimir Putin has posthumously awarded the Soviet-era Order of Lenin to Michael Gloss, an American soldier who fought on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine.

Gloss, the son of Julian Galina — a senior official in the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) — was killed last year during the conflict. Galina is set to become the CIA’s Deputy Director of Digital Innovation.

Michael Gloss joined the Russian army in 2023 in Zadoma and had publicly described the Ukraine war as a “proxy conflict” fueled by Western media. He shared a selfie from Moscow’s Red Square before his death, which Russian media reported in April.

The CIA has stated that Gloss had been dealing with mental health challenges, and his death was not considered a national security concern. His grandfather, Larry Gloss, previously served in the US military during the Iraq War.

“We feared Russia would reveal his mother’s identity and use it for political purposes,” a family statement said.

The Kremlin has not officially confirmed the award, and the location of the medal remains unknown. The White House, CIA, and Russian officials have declined to comment.

Julian Galina began her career at the US Naval Academy in 1984, becoming the first female leader of the Brigade of Midshipmen since its founding. She later served as a cryptologic officer in active duty and naval reserves, retiring as a commander in 2013.

According to a June 12, 2025, report from Carleton University in Canada, more than 600 American citizens are currently fighting in Ukraine — on both sides of the conflict. The report states that most are men with an average age of 32, and over 60 percent have prior US military experience, including service in the Army, Green Berets, or Navy SEALs. Motivations vary, with some combatants facing drug addiction, illness, or depression.