The Insider media group reported that the mysterious illness known as "Havana Syndrome," which affected American diplomats and personnel worldwide, may be linked to energy weapons used by members of a sabotage unit of Russian military intelligence. An American intelligence investigation released last year concluded that it is "highly unlikely" a foreign adversary is responsible for the illness, first reported by U.S. embassy officials in Havana, Cuba, in 2016. However, Insider, an investigative media group focused on Russia based in Riga, Latvia, stated that members of the Russian military intelligence unit known as 29155 were present at the locations of reported health incidents involving U.S. personnel.
The Insider investigation, conducted over a year in collaboration with 60 Minutes and the German magazine Der Spiegel, also noted that senior members of unit 29155 received awards and promotions for work related to the development of "non-lethal sonic weapons." Russia has previously denied any involvement in the matter. Symptoms of the illness include migraines, nausea, memory loss, and dizziness. The Insider report indicated that the first instance of "Havana Syndrome" symptoms may have occurred prior to 2016, suggesting that likely attacks occurred two years earlier in Frankfurt, Germany, where a U.S. government employee based at the consulate lost consciousness due to what resembled a strong energy beam.
The U.S. Congress passed the Havana Act in 2021, allowing the State Department, CIA, and other government agencies to provide payments to employees and their families who were affected by the illness while on duty.
