Havana Syndrome

Officials stationed in Havana and elsewhere reported symptoms “consistent with head trauma, including vertigo and extreme headaches”, some severe enough to end careers. Many victims believe there is intelligence showing Russia is responsible. In June 2026, the Director of National Intelligence agreed that the earlier skeptical assessments were flawed. [1]

A 2023 assessment found the intelligence community could not link any case to a foreign adversary. In January 2025, the broader community assessed it “very unlikely” that a foreign actor caused the symptoms, while saying it could not “rule out” a small number of cases. [1]

On 12 June 2026 CNN reported that Gabbard rescinded both, saying they had “selectively excluded relevant intelligence” and relied on “an ethically flawed medical study”. The rescission did not put a new finding in their place. [1]

There is no evidence linking Havana Syndrome to MKULTRA. It belongs here because people ask whether the CIA’s old interest in controlling minds has a modern counterpart.