Novichok: The Military-Grade Nerve Agent

Novichok (Russian for "newcomer") is a category of highly potent, military-grade nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s-1990s as part of a secret program codenamed "Foliant." It was designed to be more lethal, more persistent, and harder to detect by standard NATO chemical weapons detectors than earlier agents like VX or sarin.

Key Characteristics

Characteristic	Description
Lethality	Estimated to be 5 to 10 times more toxic than VX. A tiny amount (often milligrams) on the skin or inhaled can be fatal.
Form	Typically binary agents, where two less-toxic precursor chemicals are mixed to create the active nerve agent. This makes them safer to transport but still highly dangerous.
Persistence	Notable for their environmental persistence. They can remain potent on surfaces for weeks, months, or longer, posing a long-term contamination risk.
Detection & Treatment	Designed to evade standard detection equipment. Standard treatments (atropine, oximes like pralidoxime) are less effective, and aggressive, sustained medical care is required.

Known Uses in Public Incidents

Novichok agents have been definitively identified in two high-profile poisoning incidents:

1. Sergei and Yulia Skripal (2018, Salisbury, UK)

Targets: Sergei Skripal (former Russian military intelligence officer and double agent for the UK) and his daughter, Yulia.

Method: The agent was applied to the front door handle of Skripal's home. The Skripals were critically injured but survived after lengthy hospitalization.

Aftermath: A local resident, Dawn Sturgess, died after coming into contact with a perfume bottle believed to be the disposal vessel for the agent. The UK government accused Russia's GRU military intelligence of the attack, leading to massive diplomatic expulsions.

2. Alexei Navalny (2020, Russia)

Target: Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist.

Method: The agent was applied to the inside of his underwear during a domestic flight in Siberia. He fell critically ill and was evacuated to Germany for treatment, where a military lab confirmed Novichok poisoning.

Aftermath: Navalny survived after a long coma. His investigation implicated agents of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The incident led to new EU and US sanctions against Russia.

Political and Legal Context

Attribution: Western governments and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have attributed the use of Novichok to Russian state actors. Russia denies any involvement and has suggested alternative theories.

Legal Status: Novichok agents are classified as Schedule 1 substances under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Russia has ratified. Their development, production, stockpiling, and use are strictly prohibited under international law.

Purpose: The public use of Novichok is widely interpreted by intelligence agencies as a signature method of assassination intended to send a message of deterrence and intimidation, demonstrating the state's reach and impunity.

Mechanism of Action and Symptoms

Like all nerve agents, Novichok works by irreversibly inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. This causes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to accumulate uncontrollably at nerve junctions, leading to a continuous overstimulation of muscles and glands.

Early Symptoms: Pinpoint pupils (miosis), runny nose, drooling, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing, nausea, and twitching.

Advanced Symptoms: Loss of consciousness, convulsions, paralysis, and respiratory failure leading to death.

Summary

In summary, Novichok is among the world's most deadly and politically significant chemical weapons, notorious for its use in targeted assassinations attributed to the Russian state, which have violated international law and triggered major geopolitical crises.