Overview

• Multiple Italian outlets, citing The Express US, report that security for Vladimir Putin transported a sealed receptacle at the Alaska meeting with President Donald Trump to collect and return his biological traces to Russia.
• The reported purpose is to prevent foreign governments from gleaning health information by analyzing the Russian leader’s bodily waste.
• Investigative journalists Régis Genté and Mikhail Rubin have described the practice as standard on foreign trips since at least 2017 under the Federal Protective Service.
• Russian reporter Farida Rustamova has recounted similar precautions during a 2018 visit to Vienna, including the use of a personal portable toilet.
• The Kremlin has not confirmed these operational details, Putin appeared in good condition at the summit, Western intelligence officials say there is no concrete public evidence of serious illness, and separate studies suggesting trained doubles lack official verification.