While the intelligence community has yet to reach an attribution assessment on Havana Syndrome, active and former government sources have told the Washington Examiner that the indications of Russian state culpability are rising. Others, and the intelligence community in particular, say it is too soon to attribute the cause and culprit of the incidents.
A National Security Council spokesperson told the Washington Examiner: "The intelligence community has launched a large-scale investigation into the potential causes of anomalous health events. The IC is actively examining a range of hypotheses but has made no determination about the cause of these incidents or who is responsible."
The Biden administration has formalized and expanded ad hoc investigative efforts under the Trump administration. Speaking last Friday, President Joe Biden emphasized: "Some [victims] are struggling with debilitating brain injuries that have curtailed their careers of service to our nation. Addressing these incidents has been a top priority for my administration." Biden pledged "to determine the cause and who is responsible." Multiple sources have praised CIA Director Bill Burns for being at the forefront of this effort.
That said, sources told the Washington Examiner that there are increasing indications Russia is involved. First, there are stronger indications of radio frequency and microwave-related injuries being suffered by U.S. government personnel. Second, there are indications of the same Russian intelligence personnel operating in locations where Havana Syndrome incidents have been reported. Third, there are new hints of a Havana Syndrome connection point with Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's national security council.
While the CIA has better than commonly understood agent coverage within the Russian security apparatus, it does not have high-quality reporting as to who is responsible for the incidents. Some sources say the relevant cell is likely to be a small "air gapped" unit operating outside of the GRU's control structure. This would fit with a unit concealment tactic sometimes applied by Russian intelligence, such as with its SVR "Cozy Bear" cyber group.
More recent assessments of suspected Havana Syndrome victims show clearer injuries to the nervous system. The intelligence community possesses evidence of sustained RF/MW weapons development by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the GRU's supervisory ministry, and RF measurement evidence in at least one Havana Syndrome incident. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported recent incidents in Colombia have affected some children of U.S. diplomats.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/officials-see-new-indications-russia-behind-havana-syndrome
