Report Connects Mystery Illness "Havana Syndrome" to Russian Intelligence Unit

A deadly syndrome, which was first reported by diplomats at the US embassy in Cuba, 2016, and has affected US diplomats in recent years has been linked to a Russian intelligence unit.

Personnel stationed around the globe with "Havana Syndrome" have reported unexplained symptoms such as dizziness.

According to a joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS's 60 Minutes,

they may have been targeted by Russian sonic arsenal.

Although Moscow has denied the accusations, US officials earlier predicted that it was unlikely to blame a foreign power.

However, in their review of "anomalous health incidents" (AHIs) - which was delivered last year - they did not give any alternative explanation, frustrating those who have been affected.

The American officials also acknowledged there were varying levels of confidence in the assessment between the different intelligence agencies involved.

The term originates from Havana, Cuba, where the initial case was identified in 2016. However, a recent report indicates that the first instances might have occurred in Germany two years prior. 

Similar cases have been documented globally, including in Washington and China. Recently, the Pentagon disclosed that a high-ranking defense department official, present at last year's Nato summit in Lithuania, exhibited symptoms akin to those of Havana syndrome.

American personnel struck with the condition - including White House, CIA and FBI staff - have complained of dizziness, headaches, difficulty concentrating and an intense and painful sound in their ears.

More than 1,000 reports of the mysterious ailment have been made, with dozens of cases still officially considered unexplained. US lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at supporting victims.

However, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study published last month said MRI scans had failed to detect evidence of brain injuries in dozens of US personnel who reported AHIs.

There has long been a suspicion that those affected have been hit by directed energy or microwaves fired from hidden devices - a possibility that was acknowledged in an earlier US intelligence report.

The fresh media investigation alleges that members of a specific Russian military intelligence unit - known as 29155 - may have targeted the brains of US diplomats with "directed energy" weapons.

It says there is evidence that places members of the unit in cities around the world at times when US personnel reported incidents.

In response to the media investigation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "No one has ever published or expressed any convincing evidence of these unfounded accusations anywhere. So, all of those are nothing more than unfounded accusations."

One victim of the syndrome - an FBI agent - told 60 Minutes about her experience of being hit by a powerful force at her home in Florida 2021.

"Bam, inside my right ear, it was like a dentist drilling on steroids," she told the programme. "That feeling when it gets too close to your eardrum? It's like that, times 10."

The woman - known as Carrie - said she ultimately passed out, and later had issues with memory and concentration.

In response to the report, US officials noted that they would "continue to closely examine anomalous health incidents", but repeated their position that it was "very unlikely a foreign adversary is responsible".

They however noted that "not call into question the very real experiences and symptoms that our colleagues and their family members have reported", saying their work on such incidents was a priority.

John Bolton, who served as Donald Trump's national security adviser, said the new allegations are "very concerning".

"I don't think the government, frankly, when I was there, took it seriously, enough. I don't think they've taken it seriously enough since then."

But Republican Senator JD Vance, a top Trump ally, rubbished the report, writing on X: "Feels like a lot of journalists have lost their minds".

See also: Benjamin Netanyahu Protests Reignite Political Divisions in Israel