The most prominent symptoms of what is known as Havana Syndrome are headache, dizziness, and nausea (Getty)

An investigation conducted by several media outlets said that “Havana Syndrome,” the name given to a mysterious disease that dozens of American diplomats have been suffering from for years, is linked to a Russian intelligence unit, which Moscow denied.

The investigation, published by the American CBS network, the German magazine Der Spiegel, and the independent Russian newspaper The Insider, concluded that these diplomats were likely the victims of a Russian sonic weapon.

The investigation also quoted an American military investigator as saying that Russian intelligence may be behind the Havana Syndrome.

Since 2016, American and Canadian diplomats working in Cuba have said that they have been suffering from health problems, especially migraines, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, and more. Later, the appearance of these health symptoms was announced in other places in the world, such as China, Germany, Australia, Russia, and Austria.

According to Agence France-Presse, widespread speculation has surrounded this case regarding its source. Initially, some American officials downplayed the symptoms, which were sometimes attributed to stress, while others spoke privately of possible attacks, expressing their suspicion that countries such as Russia were behind them.

But the US Intelligence Agency said in March 2023 that it was “unlikely” that a foreign power or weapon was the cause of this mysterious disturbance, which is the same position that US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller recently expressed.

However, the investigation, which was published by the three media outlets and said that it continued for more than a year, stated that it “discovered elements indicating that these abnormal health symptoms (..) could be caused by the use of directed energy weapons commonly used by members of Unit 29155.” In Russian military intelligence.

This unit is responsible for operations abroad, and has found itself at the center of many cases, as it was accused in particular of attempting to poison Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom in 2018.

Moscow denies

On the other hand, Russia responded in denial, and said yesterday, Monday, that what was mentioned in the investigation was “unfounded.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a press conference, “This issue has been exaggeratedly promoted in the press for several years. From the beginning, it has often been linked to Russia.”

He added, "But no one has ever published any convincing evidence, so all of this is nothing more than an unfounded accusation."

Returning to the investigation conducted by the three media outlets, it indicates that the first cases of Havana Syndrome occurred in Germany two years before those that were reported in Cuba in 2016. An employee at the US Consulate in Frankfurt lost consciousness due to this matter, which can be likened to “ A powerful beam of energy."

Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense said yesterday, Monday, that a high-ranking official in the ministry suffered from symptoms similar to the so-called “Havana Syndrome” at the NATO summit in Vilnius last year.

At the end of 2016, a number of employees at the US Embassy in Havana and their families began complaining of symptoms including headaches, hearing loss, dizziness, and nausea. The symptoms have since become known as Havana Syndrome or Unusual Health Events.

Similar complaints have also been reported elsewhere in the world. Those affected reported that the symptoms appeared after hearing a strange noise or feeling strong pressure in their heads.

The US State Department said that it did not wish to confirm or comment on the reports, noting that it had provided compensation and significant support to the affected employees.

Source: Agencies