Russia behind Havana Syndrome attacks

A conflict between the FSB and the GRU in Russia has revealed that Russia’s military intelligence is involved in Havana Syndrome. The Insider (that focuses on disclosing military intelligence ops) published an investigation establishing that Unit 29155 (responsible for Novichok nerve agent attacks in Salisbury) was involved in attacks with weapons that cause Havana Syndrome. That also confirmed our findings on Russia’s involvement in Havana Syndrome, made in January 2022, based on the study of CIA archives. Our findings formed the basis for Peter Mooring/STOPEG Foundation report. We have no doubt that Havana Syndrome is an implication of hostile impact, developed in Russia and used against U.S. diplomats and citizens since the 1980s.

With Havana Syndrome becoming widely known in 2016, when U.S. diplomats in Cuba reported experiencing sudden headaches, trouble seeing and hearing, dizziness, and nausea, we found out that the U.S. Embassy personnel in Moscow first reported the symptoms in the 1980s. Scans showed some of them experienced mild traumatic brain injuries, and damage to central nervous system.

CBS News once again raised the issue of a mysterious illness dubbed Havana Syndrome in April 2024. CBS News sources in the U.S. government also believe that Russian intelligence agencies are responsible for Havana Syndrome that was observed in American diplomats abroad.

We were surprised, however, to see the feedback by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which released an assessment claiming that Havana Syndrome was ‘very unlikely’ caused by hostile foreign power. We believe those conclusions were made because of the reluctance to push confrontation with Moscow, as attack on U.S. diplomatic personnel is, de facto, an act of aggression against the United States (which required military response). We assume, at the same time, the State Department ignored Russia’s involvement in Havana Syndrome as it sought not to pay insurance to the diplomats who suffered.

The CIA director, however, admitted in 2021 that Russia might have been behind Havana Syndrome that U.S. diplomats experienced.

The investigation published by Russian The Insider cleared all doubts though, not only about Kremlin’s involvement in the attacks, but also revealed the people who carried out those attacks. We believe the investigation by The Insider came out, as Chemezov-Patrushev team made a political attack on Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is likely to lose the government position after the anticipated government reshuffle. That is why the reports by the media that confirm Russia’s involvement in Havana Syndrome are a big internal blow to the government military block, and a challenge for the West, as it has to respond to the attacks on diplomatic missions.