Son of CIA Deputy Director Gallina Killed in Action in April
Putin Awards Order of Lenin... "Psychological Warfare Ahead of Trump Summit"
Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded a medal to the son of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director, who enlisted in the Russian military, fought in the Ukraine war, and was killed in action.
According to Yonhap News on August 10, citing CBS, President Putin presented the Order of Lenin to Steve Whitcoff, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, during his visit to Russia on August 6. President Putin reportedly requested that the medal be delivered to Julianne Gallina, the CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation.
The Order of Lenin, which recognizes distinguished service in public office, has previously been awarded to high-level intelligence officers, including Kim Philby, who served as a double agent for both the United Kingdom and the former Soviet Union. Michael Alexander Gloss, the son of Deputy Director Gallina, volunteered for the Russian military in September 2023 and served in a frontline assault unit on the eastern front, where he was killed in action in April last year.
Gloss posted a photo taken at Red Square in Moscow on social media, expressing his support for Russia in what he called the "Ukraine proxy war." He also dismissed media reports about the war as "Western propaganda."
He posted the photo taken at Red Square in Moscow on social media, referred to the conflict as the "Ukraine proxy war," and expressed his support for Russia. According to his family, while they knew that Gloss had gone to Russia, they were completely unaware that he had participated in combat.
CIA: "Unrelated to National Security"
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands ahead of their summit in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018 (local time). Photo by AFP Helsinki
After his death, the bereaved family revealed that he had suffered from mental illness throughout his life. The CIA stated that his death was unrelated to any national security matters.
CBS analyzed that, considering President Putin's penchant for psychological warfare and exposing his adversaries' weaknesses, this move was likely intended to highlight the fact that the son of a senior CIA official fought for the Russian military.
This awarding of the medal comes at a sensitive time, as U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Russia and is approaching the timing of a second round of tariffs against Russia.
President Putin is scheduled to meet President Trump in Alaska, United States, on August 15. This will be the first U.S.-Russia summit since President Trump returned to office, raising concerns that an agreement unfavorable to Ukraine may emerge.
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