Kathrine Frich
The bizarre move is part of the Russian leader’s extreme security measures ahead of Friday’s talks on Ukraine.
The bizarre move is part of the Russian leader’s extreme security measures ahead of Friday’s talks on Ukraine.
Putin to Bring ‘Poo Suitcase’ to Alaska Summit with Trump
Vladimir Putin is headed to Alaska for a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump, and he’s bringing a very unusual travel companion, a suitcase filled with his own excrement.
According to multiple reports, one of Putin’s bodyguards will carry a bag containing his faeces and urine throughout the visit.
The Meeting: Peace Talks or Power Play?
Putin and Trump are scheduled to meet on 15 August at 11:30 a.m. local time in Alaska.
The U.S. president is reportedly preparing to offer Putin a deal that’s “too good to refuse” in hopes of ending the war in Ukraine.
But Trump has also warned of “very severe consequences” if an agreement isn’t reached.
Trump Eyes a Second Round of Talks
Trump has already floated the idea of a second meeting, possibly including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“If the first one goes OK, we’ll have a quick second one,” Trump told reporters.
He added that he’d like to host both leaders for further talks “almost immediately” if the opportunity arises.
Putin’s Obsession with Security
Putin’s travel habits are anything but ordinary.
The Russian leader goes to great lengths to protect himself, often with layers of security from the Federal Protective Service (FSO), known internally as his “Musketeers.”
One guard carries a bulletproof suitcase that can double as a shield, another carries his bodily waste.
What’s in the Suitcase — and Why?
The case reportedly contains faeces and urine sealed in special packets, which are later flown back to Russia.
The point of the suitcase is to stop foreign intelligence agencies from analysing Putin’s health through his waste.
According to French outlet Paris Match, this has been standard practice since at least 2017.
A Secretive Health Obsession
Rumours about Putin’s health have swirled for years, but the Kremlin has kept things tightly under wraps.
The poo suitcase is just one of many methods used to keep personal information from leaking abroad.
The tactic may seem strange. but it’s not without precedent in espionage history.
Spycraft Straight Out of the Cold War
A former Soviet agent once claimed that Joseph Stalin tried to study the stools of world leaders, including Chairman Mao, to assess their physical and mental health.
So while bizarre, Putin’s strategy may have roots in decades-old Soviet intelligence practices.
Apparently, in the spy world, nothing is off-limits, not even what’s left behind in the toilet.
Portable Toilets and Celebrity Claims
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus added her own bizarre detail in 2020.
She said a Vienna museum employee told her that Putin brought his own private toilet — a sort of “porta potty” — on a previous visit.
The Russian leader clearly prefers to keep his business… private.
Putin’s Other Suitcase: The Nuclear Briefcase
Alongside the infamous poo case, Putin also travels with the “Cheget”, Russia’s nuclear briefcase.
This top-secret device allows him to launch a nuclear attack at any time with the push of a button.
