During the upcoming meeting in Alaska, Vladimir Putin will be accompanied by his security team and several special suitcases. These are not ordinary pieces of luggage; they are bulletproof and designed to provide protection. One particular suitcase, the ‘poo suitcase,’ stands out due to its specific purpose: to collect Putin’s bodily waste—urine and feces—for transport back to Moscow.
This practice was first disclosed in 2017, with further reports in 2019. The underlying motivation appears to be the protection of Putin’s health information from those who might seek to exploit it. Keeping details of his health private is a priority. This is achieved by controlling access to biological samples that could reveal information about his physical condition. The rumors surrounding Putin’s health, fueled by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, have intensified interest in his physical state. There have been reports of him suffering from cancer, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Images and reports suggest measures taken to hide potential signs of illness, like the use of a blanket at the Victory Day parade or the unusual number of bodyguards present when he used the restroom during the Ukraine summit in Paris.