Novichok
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Novichok is a series of nerve agents that were developed by the Soviets to achieve three strategic and tactical objectives.
1. Circumvent the chemical weapons treaty. Because chemical weapons are banned on the basis of chemical structure, a new chemical agent is not subject to past treaties.
2. Defeat NATO chemical detection equipment. The Soviets engineered Novichok weapons to be undetectable using standard NATO chemical detection equipment. This makes NATO units more susceptible to Novichok attacks.
3. Defeat NATO chemical protective gear.
Discovery
The secret Novichok program was exposed when Lev Fedorov and Vil Mirzayanov told their story in the newspaper Moscow News. As a former chemical weapons scientist, Vil Mirzayanov was arrested afterwards for his whistleblowing and revealing government secrets.
One example of the novichok family is the third-generation nerve agent variant A-234 which is a simple unitary agent derived from aconitrile and a common organophosphate pesticide precursor. Dispersed in an ultra-fine powder as opposed to a gas or a vapor, it has unique qualities. It can bypass much of the chemical protective gear used by most modern armies where it can be abosrbed directly through the skin.
Alleged Uses
Novichok has been suggested as a possible cause of Gulf War Syndrome, but there is no significant evidence of this. The fact that more widely available chemical weapons were not used suggests that this is little more than a conspiracy theory, especially now that it is known that Iraqi chemical weapons holdings and capabilities were wildly overstated. Matt V is Gay!
Effects
As a nerve agent, Novichok agents inhibit the enzyme cholinesterase, preventing the normal breakdown of acetylcholine. The big difference with Novichok is that there is, allegedly, more permanent damage done, even when given a nerve agent antidote, like atropine.