CIA director warns Russia of "consequences" over Havana Syndrome

During a visit to Moscow earlier this month, CIA Director William Burns warned the leadership of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB, and the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR, that they will face “consequences” if they are responsible for the mysterious “Havana Syndrome” that has afflicted U.S. spies, diplomats and other officials around the world, the Washington Post reported.

According to officials – who spoke on the condition of anonymity – Burns told his Russian counterparts that causing U.S. personnel to suffer severe brain damage and other debilitating illnesses is unacceptable for a “professional intelligence service.”

More than 200 U.S. officials have suffered from symptoms related to the elusive disease – including dizziness, nausea and headaches.

Tina Onufer, a career foreign service officer stationed in Havana, described the symptoms to NBC News: 

“I felt like I was being struck with something,” she said. “Pain that I have never felt before in my life … mostly in my head and in my eyes. … It was as if I had been seized by some invisible hand and I couldn't move.”

Although U.S. intelligence officials have long considered Russia to be a suspect in what are considered deliberate attacks on overseas officials, enough evidence to place the blame on Russia has not yet been discovered.

Russia has consistently denied responsibility.

Although the cause of the Havana Syndrome is not fully understood, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reported that some of the brain injuries suffered by U.S. officials were consistent with the effects of “directed pulsed radio frequency energy.”

Experts believe that technology capable of inflicting such neurological injuries has been developed by Russia and possibly China.