A mysterious illness that has affected US diplomats in recent years has been linked to a Russian intelligence unit.

Personnel stationed around the globe with “Havana Syndrome” have reported unexplained symptoms such as dizziness.

They may have been targeted by Russian sonic weaponry, according to a joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS’s 60 Minutes.

There has long been a suspicion that those affected have been hit by directed energy or microwaves fired from hidden devices - a possibility that was acknowledged in an earlier US intelligence report.

The fresh media investigation alleges that operatives from a Russian military intelligence unit - known as 29155 - may have targeted the brains of US diplomats with “directed energy” weapons.

It says there is evidence that places members of the unit in cities around the world at times when US personnel reported incidents.

  • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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    7 months ago

    An American military investigator examining instances of the syndrome told 60 Minutes that the common link between victims of the syndrome was a “Russia nexus”.

    Greg Edgreen explained: “There was some angle where they had worked against Russia, focused on Russia, and done extremely well.”

    He also said the official US bar of proof to show Russian involvement had been set too high, as his country did not want to “face some very hard truths”.

    Crucially, this started happening in late 2016, and reports became more widespread (including Canadian foreign ministry personnel) in 2017.

    TL;DR Trump or one of his toadies decided to made the burden of proof insanely high because Trump likes Putin.

    • rdri@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Link to the original report there shows 404 error.

      In case it matters, current report comes from The Insider - media created by Russian dissidents.

      • PatFusty@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        Why would the CIA change their mind after 1 year? They were investigating for years and they conclude it’s not a weapon, then a year later they say ‘nope April fools LOL’

        • rdri@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          This particular investigation was underway for 3 years. If your only argument is LOL then I guess it’s not use in suggesting you to read it.

  • Passerby6497@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Is Havana syndrome anything more than mass psychogenic illness? There’s a lot of hay been made about these people’s illness, but I haven’t seen any evidence of an actual issue or anything remotely explainable with current technology.

    • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      The article that this thread is under points out other possible causes. If you read it, it may answer your question. They suppose that it may be a sonic weapon used by a russian operative.

      Sonic weapons are very real tech that is here now.

        • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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          7 months ago

          The article is talking about possible correlations, not 100% locked down proof. It never claims to have definitive facts.

          Some of the health effects reported do line up with sonic weapon. Nausea, dizziness/etc, so there is some interesting overlap, especially with deployed Russian operatives in the same area. Method + motive possibly connecting.

  • Mastengwe@lemm.ee
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    7 months ago

    So…. Between this and the GPS blackouts on airlines- we can all agree that Russia is planning to do something big very soon…. Right?

  • maximuspleb@lemmy.wtf
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    7 months ago

    The thing is, I doubt Russia has the capability to do something for so long and get away with it.

    I think it’s more likely China, in terms of such capability that is.

    • rdri@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      The investigation here heavily relies on series of coincidences between travel records of Russian agents and accidents history.