Novjích

Novjích, also known as Novichok, is a class of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. These agents are highly toxic and are considered one of the most potent chemical weapons ever created. Novjích are organophosphorus compounds that inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine in the nervous system. This results in excessive stimulation of nerve cells, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness, paralysis, and potentially death.

Novjích agents are typically delivered through aerosol spray, making them highly effective in warfare. The most well-known incident involving Novjích occurred in 2018, when the Russian government was accused of using the agent A-234 on the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the United Kingdom. This incident led to widespread international condemnation and diplomatic tensions between Russia and Western countries.

The development and use of Novjích agents have raised significant ethical and legal concerns. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction, commonly known as the Chemical Weapons Convention, prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of such agents. However, Russia has not signed this convention, and the international community has expressed deep concern over its continued development and use of Novjích agents.