"Novichok" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Novichok is a type of highly toxic nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. The name "Novichok" is Russian for "newcomer" or "new champ", and it was given to this group of nerve agents because they were designed to be more potent and persistent than earlier types of nerve agents.
Novichok agents are designed to be more resistant to neutralization by ordinary protective gear, such as gas masks and protective suits, and are also more difficult to detect because they are odorless and colorless. Novichok agents can cause a range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure, and can be fatal if not treated promptly and effectively.
In recent years, Novichok agents have been used in several significant attacks and incidents, including the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England, and the 2020 poisoning of two Russian men in Turkey. The use of Novichok agents has raised significant concern and alarm, and has led to calls for tighter controls and regulations on the production and use of such agents.