The mysterious afflictions known as Havana Syndrome, first identified among U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Havana, Cuba, in 2016, have stirred serious concern and investigation.
Victims reported experiencing unusual noises and feelings of pressure, followed by severe symptoms like vertigo, migraines, and cognitive difficulties. The phenomenon has since been reported globally, sparking speculation of attacks by a foreign adversary, potentially Russia, using directed energy weapons.
A former Pentagon official overseeing the inquiry into these incidents shared his belief with CBS’s “60 Minutes” that Russia is likely responsible, targeting U.S. officials both overseas and domestically.
Russian President (Credits: Fox News)
This revelation comes alongside reports from “60 Minutes,” in collaboration with The Insider and Der Spiegel, suggesting Russia’s military intelligence unit, 29155, could be involved in these suspected attacks.
Despite early suspicions pointing toward Russia’s GRU (military intelligence), U.S. intelligence has not conclusively identified the perpetrators. Yet, such incidents have persisted.
A particular case mentioned involved a senior Pentagon official attending a NATO summit in Lithuania, who later required medical attention due to an abnormal health incident.
Greg Edgreen, who led the Defense Intelligence Agency’s investigation from 2021 to 2023, expressed his conviction that U.S. officers are being targeted, specifically by Russia.
This assertion raises concerns about the boundaries of Moscow’s actions and the reluctance of U.S. administrations to directly attribute these incidents to Russia, fearing the implications of such an acknowledgment.
“60 Minutes” also highlighted a suspected attack in Florida linked to Russia. An FBI agent investigating a Russian spy posing as a chef experienced symptoms of Havana Syndrome. This individual, Vitalii Kovalev, was later found to have high-level military engineering expertise and connections to Russia’s GRU.
Russian President Putin (Credits: Punch Newspapers)
Evidence suggested GRU’s involvement in non-lethal acoustic weapon development, with members of unit 29155 placed in Georgia when Americans reported similar incidents in 2021.
While some have suggested environmental factors or psychological stress as possible explanations, the CIA and other agencies have compensated officers for unexplained brain injuries, acknowledging the physical impact of these incidents.
The Department of Defense continues to investigate, treating these cases as counterintelligence incidents and developing treatment protocols for affected individuals.
The House Intelligence Committee has also initiated a formal probe into the handling of Havana Syndrome cases amid claims of a governmental “cover-up” by a lawyer representing some victims. Many affected officers had assignments related to Russia or were in locations conducive to Russian espionage activities.
Cuban authorities have consistently denied involvement, attributing the symptoms to hysteria or pre-existing conditions. Despite these assertions, the debate over Havana Syndrome’s origins and implications continues, highlighting the complexities and uncertainties in addressing this modern-day espionage mystery.
