US military tests on secret weapon bought from Russian criminal network reveal Havana Syndrome-like symptoms

Undercover U.S. agents reportedly obtained a mysterious Russian-made weapon that could help explain a puzzling series of brain injuries suffered by American diplomats, intelligence officers, and military personnel for nearly a decade — incidents widely known as “Havana Syndrome,” according to a new report.

The compact microwave-based device was allegedly acquired from a sophisticated Russian criminal network in a Pentagon-funded operation carried out by undercover Department of Homeland Security agents. Confidential sources told CBS News’ “60 Minutes” that the weapon was purchased for roughly $15 million.

The programmable device is designed to operate silently and remain concealed. Unlike a traditional microwave oven, it does not generate noticeable heat. Officials familiar with the technology say it can be controlled remotely and may penetrate several hundred feet through windows and drywall.

According to the report, the weapon generates a specially shaped electromagnetic wave that rises and pulses abruptly. Researchers believe this energy could affect soft brain tissue, potentially explaining sudden attacks of severe neurological symptoms that have been reported by hundreds of American personnel stationed overseas and in the United States since at least 2016.

The mysterious illnesses became known as “Havana Syndrome” after some of the first cases were reported among U.S. diplomats stationed in Cuba. Victims have reported symptoms including vertigo, hearing loss, migraines, vision problems, and cognitive impairment.

Sources told “60 Minutes” the still-classified device has been undergoing testing at a U.S. military laboratory for more than a year. Experiments on rats and sheep reportedly produced injuries similar to those experienced by people suffering from Havana Syndrome.

Classified security footage described to the program allegedly shows possible attacks occurring in real time. In one case, surveillance cameras captured two FBI agents dining with their families at a restaurant in Istanbul. After a man carrying a backpack entered the establishment, everyone seated at the agents’ table suddenly grabbed their heads in apparent pain.

Another video reportedly recorded at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna shows two individuals collapsing in a stairwell inside a secure area of the facility.

Dr. David Relman, a Stanford University professor who led two government investigations into the phenomenon, said his team concluded that the most plausible explanation for some cases was exposure to radiofrequency or microwave energy.

“In both of our investigations, we found the large majority of work to have been conducted in the former Soviet Union,” Relman told “60 Minutes,” noting that Russia appeared to have researched the concept for decades.

According to Relman, Soviet-era researchers determined that microwave frequencies could produce effects ranging from loss of consciousness and seizures to memory lapses, headaches, disorientation, and balance problems — symptoms that closely resemble those reported by Havana Syndrome victims.

“What the Russians spoke about was the importance of the energy being pulsed in order to have biological effects on humans,” Relman said.

“When you produce pulses like this, you can stimulate electrically active tissue like brain tissue and even the heart,” he explained. “You’re essentially mimicking what the brain normally does, but driving it with pulses from the outside.”

One American who believes he experienced such attacks is Chris, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who worked on classified spy satellite programs. He told “60 Minutes” he suffered multiple episodes at his home in Northern Virginia in 2020 that left him dependent on neurological medication.

“The very first incident occurred in August of 2020,” he recalled. “It felt like someone punched me in the throat, my left ear suddenly clogged, and I started getting sharp shooting pains down my left arm.”

His wife, Heidi — whom he met at the Air Force Academy — said she also began experiencing serious medical problems.

“At the beginning of January, I woke up with intense joint pain everywhere,” she said. “My left shoulder started hurting out of nowhere, with no trauma.”

Doctors later discovered that bones in her shoulders were deteriorating due to a condition known as osteolysis, which required surgery.

Despite these reports, the U.S. government has long debated whether the mysterious health episodes were caused by deliberate attacks.

A 2023 intelligence assessment concluded it was “very unlikely” that a foreign adversary was responsible for Havana Syndrome. However, some scientists and intelligence officials have continued to question that conclusion.

A former CIA officer involved in the agency’s internal investigation told “60 Minutes” he believed the issue had been downplayed.

“One of the very first things I heard when I arrived at the AHI Unit was, ‘Our job is to bring down the temperature on AHI at headquarters,’” he said. The government refers to the incidents as “anomalous health incidents,” or AHI.

According to the former officer, agency leadership appeared to prefer treating the cases as an environmental or atmospheric issue rather than a potential hostile action by a foreign government.

He ultimately resigned from his position, saying the situation had become “a moral issue.”

In a statement to “60 Minutes,” the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its investigation into anomalous health incidents remains ongoing.

“The team conducting the review of AHI intelligence has been relentless in its pursuit of the truth,” the agency said. “ODNI’s review will be comprehensive and complete before it is released.”

Officials added that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has provided the time, resources, and support necessary to ensure the investigation is thorough and accurate.

“We remain committed to delivering the truth that the American people deserve.”

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