Key PointsThe Kremlin dismissed a report that Russian navy intelligence could also be behind the ‘Havana syndrome’ ailment. Signs of the illness have included migraines, nausea, reminiscence lapses and dizziness.Within the US, the Pentagon confirmed {that a} senior Pentagon official had signs much like the ‘Havana syndrome’.
The Kremlin on Monday dismissed a report that Russian navy intelligence could also be behind the mysterious “Havana syndrome” ailment that has US diplomats and spies globally.
Insider, a Russia-focused investigative media group primarily based in Riga, Latvia reported that members of a Russian navy intelligence (GRU) unit referred to as 29155 had been positioned on the scene of reported well being incidents involving US personnel.
The year-long Insider investigation in collaboration with 60 Minutes and Germany’s Der Spiegel additionally reported that senior members of Unit 29155 acquired awards and promotions for work associated to the event of “non-lethal acoustic weapons”.
“This isn’t a brand new subject in any respect; for a few years the subject of the so-called ‘Havana Syndrome’ has been exaggerated within the press, and from the very starting it was linked to accusations towards the Russian facet,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters when requested concerning the report.
“However nobody has ever printed or expressed any convincing proof of those unfounded accusations anyplace,” Peskov stated. “Due to this fact, all that is nothing greater than baseless, unfounded accusations by the media.”
In Washington, the Pentagon confirmed {that a} senior Pentagon official skilled signs much like these related to the “Havana syndrome” throughout the NATO summit in Vilnius final yr.
Signs of the ailment have included migraines, nausea, reminiscence lapses and dizziness.
‘Havana syndrome’ signs might have occurred earlier than 2016
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that official was not part of US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin’s delegation and referred inquiries to the intelligence neighborhood on the broader situation.
The Workplace of the Director for Nationwide Intelligence pointed to the 2024 Annual Menace Evaluation that stated the US intelligence neighborhood continues “to carefully study” so-called Anomalous Well being Incidents however famous that almost all companies concluded that it “may be very unlikely a international adversary is accountable.”
US intelligence companies assessed that signs, first reported by US embassy officers within the Cuban capital Havana in 2016, “most likely had been the results of components that didn’t contain a international adversary.”
The Insider report stated the primary incident of “Havana Syndrome” signs might have occurred sooner than 2016.
It stated “there have been probably assaults two years earlier in Frankfurt, Germany, when a US authorities worker stationed on the consulate there was knocked unconscious by one thing akin to a powerful power beam”.
US Congress handed the Havana Act in 2021 authorising the State Division, CIA and different US authorities companies to supply funds to employees and their households affected by the ailment throughout task.
