Russian intelligence may be responsible for a mysterious illness that has affected US diplomats in recent years.
A joint program by The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS reported that they may have been targeted by Russian sonic weapons. Personnel working in different parts of the world have reported unexplained symptoms such as dizziness as part of the so-called "Havana Syndrome".
People, including White House, CIA and FBI employees, complained of headaches, difficulty concentrating, and an intense and painful noise in their ears. More than a thousand reports have been made and dozens of cases are still officially considered unexplained.
The disease is named after the Cuban capital Havana, where it was first detected in 2016. US officials had previously said it was unlikely that a foreign power was to blame.
Kremlin rejected the allegations
The Kremlin has rejected reports that Russian military intelligence could be behind the ailment, arguing that the accusations in the report are unfounded.
"This is nothing new; the so-called 'Havana Syndrome' has been exaggerated in the press for many years and has been associated with accusations against the Russian side from the very beginning," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
US: 'Havana syndrome' in diplomats did not reveal hostile power
Targeted intelligence unit '29155'
A US intelligence report says there are suspicions that those who contracted the disease were hit by energy or microwaves fired from hidden devices.
The new research found that agents from a Russian military intelligence unit, known as 29155, had been shot "with these weapons". He claims he may have targeted the brains of US diplomats. As part of the investigation, The Insider website also reported that officers from 29155 were rewarded for their work on the development of "non-lethal acoustic weapons".
Responding to the report, US officials said they would "continue to closely examine abnormal health events" but reiterated their view that "it is highly unlikely that a foreign adversary is responsible." In a report two years ago, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said Havana Syndrome was not a global campaign by a hostile power targeting US diplomats and spies.
