Havana Syndrome Breakthrough: Report Links Illness to Russian Unit
The strange so-called Havana Syndrome symptoms reported by US diplomats in recent years have been linked to a Russian intelligence unit, according to a joint media investigation published on April 1.
Havana Syndrome was initially reported in 2016 when US diplomats in Cuba’s capital were unwell and heard piercing sounds at night, fueling speculation of a foreign attack employing an undisclosed sonar weapon. Other symptoms such as bloody noses, headaches, and visual issues were later reported by embassy personnel in China and Europe.
Havana syndrome is a group of mental health symptoms reported by US intelligence and embassy officers in numerous nations. In general, the term’syndrome’ refers to a group of symptoms. It does not refer to a distinct medical ailment, but rather to a group of symptoms that are typically encountered simultaneously and whose causes may be difficult to determine.
Havana syndrome is characterized by symptoms such as hearing particular noises without any outside noise, nausea, vertigo and migraines, memory loss, and balance concerns.
As the name implies, it originated in Cuba in late 2016. This came approximately a year after the United States established an embassy in Havana following the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2015. Some US intelligence officials and embassy staff reported rapid bursts of cerebral pressure, followed by chronic headaches, disorientation, and insomnia.
What were the findings of the investigation?
According to the research, personnel of a Russian military intelligence unit known as 29155 may have targeted US leaders’ brains with “directed energy” weapons. The 29155 team, which has been in operation for almost a decade, has previously been accused of carrying out overseas assassinations, subversion, and sabotage.
According to the investigation, there is information that places unit members “at the scene of suspected attacks on overseas US government personnel and their family members”. It adds that the initial event most likely occurred in Germany two years before the cases reported in Havana in 2016.
Where has the Havana Syndrome been reported?
Since the Cuban event, American intelligence and foreign affairs professionals stationed in several countries have reported signs of the illness.
US diplomats in China initially reported symptoms in April 2018, at the Guangzhou embassy. In 2019, and 2020, incidents occurred in the United States, primarily in Washington, DC, at The Ellipse.
Over 130 Havana Syndrome instances have been reported by US officials around the world, including in Moscow, Poland, Georgia, Taiwan, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Austria. Kamala Harris, the US Vice President, was delayed in 2021 owing to symptoms. The first occurrence happened in India that same year.During a trip to New Delhi, a US intelligence officer and CIA director William Burns reported signs of Havana syndrome.
What causes Havana Syndrome?
Nobody is sure. Following the Havana event, there were suspicions that the syndrome was a “sonic attack” carried out by Cuba, a country that had been hostile to the United States for almost five decades.
However, additional research by scientists in the United States, as well as medical examinations of the victims, suggested that they had been exposed to high-powered microwaves that harmed or interfered with the neurological system. It was thought to create pressure inside the brain, resulting in the sensation of hearing a sound.
High-powered microwaves can disrupt balance, impair memory, and cause lasting brain damage. Mobile phones emit small amounts of microwaves, but they are not targeted. Microwaves have been employed as a counter-intelligence tactic since the Cold War, with US embassy staff suffering from mental health concerns in the 1970s.
What do we know about Havana Syndrome in India?
As of July 2023, the 2021 episode remained the only reported case of the syndrome in India. Sources in the Indian security establishment stated in 2021 that they were unaware of any weapon with such capabilities being in the custody of an Indian agency. Given the delicate nature of intelligence operations, the government was unlikely to admit to acquiring such counter-espionage technology.
