This week has understandably been dominated by the middle east crisis and the horrors coming out of that. It was a week that saw the US prioritising aid to Israel which, according to US House Speaker, Mike Johnson, has a ‘pressing and urgent need’ for assistance. Given the internecine conflict going on between Democrats and Republicans, it is not at all clear that the Ukrainians will get anything at this point.1 Johnson, employing terms similar to those previously used by some of his colleagues in relation to Ukraine, said that Congress will back the war ‘unwaveringly to the end’. It is worrying when politicians use terms such as ‘unwaveringly’ and ‘the end’ in the same sentence. One version of ‘the end’ conjures up images of mushroom clouds covering the whole planet.
A Religious War?
Simplicius has written an article in which he discusses the eschatological nature of the political rhetoric being spewed by some politicians relating to the conflict in the middle east. Netanyahu, for example, mindful of the meagre justification his country has for committing genocide, resorts to biblical claims about the old ‘land of Israel’ (the promised land maybe) which has absolutely no room for Palestinians within its own territory. But the cracks now being opened up between the Jewish and Muslim faiths are in danger of becoming dangerous chasms that could engulf much of humanity. Unwanted migration over decades could ensure that conflict between Muslims and Palestinian supporters on the one hand and Jews supported by the Western establishment on the other, could be fought out on the streets of many Western countries for some time to come. Even an optimist has to accept that this gloomy prognosis is a possibility.
Signs of Western Isolation and Decline
On a positive note, the inadequacies of Western organisations such as the UN and NATO are being brought into very sharp focus by these two conflicts in which a majority, if not a vast majority of people in the world oppose the decisions and policies of the ruling Unipolar World Order. The recent UN vote (see below) shows that the US, rather than Russia, is in danger of becoming isolated from most of the world. Russian ‘expert’ and ex Trump adviser, Fiona Hill, has suggested that the conflicts in Ukraine and the middle east are ‘system shifting’ wars (just like the First and Second World Wars) that will benefit Putin rather than the West - as reported by RT.
Anger and Escalation
Many of those who hate the US and Israel now have a focal point for their anger and may get the chance to express it. Thousand of Iraqis are at the border with Jordon pleading for the authorities to let them through so that they can start killing Israelis (according to Alastair Crooke interviewed by Judge Napolitano). Turkish citizens along with people from Iran and other Arab countries are asking for war with Israel. There is a danger that the pent up anger of the Arab people incensed by Israeli atrocities in Gaza will come home to roost in a massacre of the Israeli perpetrators. Whereas many of the conditions for such a scenario are in place, I am still hopeful that given the massive world opposition to the war, a truce will be imposed on both sides.
Why did it Happen?
There has been much speculation about the reasons behind the outbreak of this conflict and why Hamas’s attack was not detected by US/Israeli security forces. Commentators are not in agreement about such things. Some believe that the West has collaborated with Hamas to allow Israel to carry out ethnic cleansing in Gaza or as a pretext for war with Iran. Others believe that Hamas simply surprised everyone with an attack that had been years in the planning and has had no backing from the West nor from Arab countries. I have no room to deal with these matters in the Update but I am sure that there are plenty of sources from which you can access various theories and analyses relating to the conflict. Brian Berletic, who believes the conflict could be part of the US’s attempt to retain hegemony in the face of RoW opposition, provides some balanced and rational analysis here (33 minutes).
UN General Assembly Votes for a Truce in Gaza
On the 28th October, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) voted for a Truce in Gaza based on a resolution from Jordan. 120 voted for, 14 against (including the US and Israel) and 45 abstained (including the UK, France and Spain). Unfortunately, the resolution is not binding - so Netanyahu has ignored it. Israel has been ignoring UN resolutions for 70 years. Another resolution condemning Hamas failed to pass and was followed by loud cheers. It seems that the vast majority of people in the world want a truce to prevent genocide in Gaza but because Israel and the US are ignoring them, pro-Palestinian protests are mushrooming around the world: a world that is more divided than ever and in need of an organisation to replace the UNGA that actually works. Maybe BRICS will provide one at some point soon.
Ukraine Weaponising Middle East Crisis?
Ukrainian Telegram Channels have been stirring up unrest in Dagestan where 90% of the population are Sunni Muslims. According to RT, the Ukrainian Secret services could have been behind the spread of false rumours through Telegram that Israeli refugees were arriving at Makhachkala airport on Sunday night. Incensed by this, pro-Palestinian protesters turned up at the airport where both police and protesters were injured and arrests were made. The Great Z took the opportunity to lambast Russian ‘antisemitism’ and hatred of other nations. This incident illustrates the anger that many Muslims feel towards Israel. It also shows how the middle east conflict is impacting on the Ukraine conflict and the potential for Ukrainian manipulation in the optics war. You can read more about it here. The arrested protesters could face 8-15 years in prison and have received no sympathy from pro-Russian bloggers. Boris Rozhin had this to say. It is clear that the BLM riots of 2020 could never have happened in Russia because sanity is still in charge.
Ukraine Elections
Ukraine is preparing for elections some time in 2024. The following was reported by a contributor to legitimniy:
Our source reports that the Head of the Presidential Office, Ermak2, is preparing for the upcoming 2024 elections. In addition to the fact that ZeErmak is preparing a whole series of its satellite parties, they are also working on schemes with the help of which they will be able to ban inconvenient parties. The task has been set to preserve the monopoly of power, but now there will be not a mono-majority, but a “coalition of satellites’’.
This is Ukrainian democracy in action (thanks to Down South on the MoA).
Ukrainian Soldiers Suffering
According to an article in the US’s Business Insider by Charles R Davis, many Ukrainian soldiers are suffering with burnout, depression, divorce and PTSD. The British Financial Times has reported that Ukrainian medical facilities are very poor. ‘Doctors complain that many wounded people die due to poor quality supplies of medicines and medical equipment’, according to Slavyangrad. The Ukrainians have lost 90,000 killed and wounded since the offensive began on June 4th.
Ukrainian Forces May Not Last Until Spring
Yan Gagin, adviser to Denis Pushilin (Head of DPR), believes that the Ukrainian forces will not last until spring. This is also the view of Scott Ritter3 . A recent Marat Khairullin report suggests that Ukrainian counter-attacks are not as strong and regular as they used to be because the army is running out of reserves. Khairullin has also seen evidence that the Ukrainians are running low on armoured vehicles since they are using tanks to convey troops to the front, as they did recently near Kupyansk where 4 tanks (including two Leopard 2s) were destroyed trying to do this.
Female Battalions
For a while I have been hearing rumours about women being drafted into the Ukraine military. According to Russian blogger, Yuri Podolyaka, this is no rumour: there really are female battalions. Even the Nazis in their death throes, grimly trying to survive in ‘45 and having used up many old men and boys, did not mobilise women.
Z Losing Support
A recent US backed poll indicates that Z’s popularity is in decline. Only 42% of Ukrainians, strongly approve of their president while 40% somewhat approve. In an April poll, these figures were 58% and 33% respectively - according to RT. Surprisingly, according to a poll, 94% of Ukrainians still believe they will beat Russia - which indicates how far removed from reality these people are - or maybe the poll has been rigged.
The Lonely Fight of Volodymyr Zelensky - Time Magazine
Time magazine paints a rather sad picture of the Great Z in this article. His characteristic sparkle of optimism and his sense of humour have deserted him and he feels abandoned by the West. His efforts to secure funding have made him weary and the pressure of the war has taken its toll. Accusations of Ukrainian corruption have strained his relations with Western allies. This report suggests that he is hardly able to sleep at all and is prone to act aggressively towards the opinions of Western advisers. But his belief in victory has not been affected. ‘Nobody believes in victory like I do. Nobody’, he said, refusing to even contemplate negotiations with the Russians. But some of his colleagues and advisers believe him to be deluded in such a belief and are pessimistic about the future. Dark winter is approaching and the Russians have already begun to attack the electric grid. I think the Ukrainians have a lot to be pessimistic about.
Z is also at odds with General Zaluzhny, who, it is reported, does not agree with the president’s policy of continuing the offensive. Zaluzhny wants his army to dig in and take to defence, which would save the lives of many of his soldiers. The picture above (from Time) tells us much about how Z felt after his meeting with US senators and the embarrassment (or guilt) of his hosts who have let him down. One Ukrainian source is claiming that Z has been given an ultimatum to start negotiations or his funding will decline gradually until it falls to zero.
Mothers, Wives and Children Protest in Ukraine
Protests erupted in 6 Ukrainian cities this week demanding an 18 month limit on military service. The New York Times has reported on a demonstration near Z’s offices in Kiev where protesters demanded he bring their loved ones home from the front. Some told the Times that they had been trying to get information about missing relatives for more than a year. One child carried a poster saying ‘give me back my Dad’. How sad. This could become a problem for Z.
EU Ukraine Aid Blocked
On the 26th October, at the European Union Summit, Slovakia and Hungary blocked a move to donate $52.8 billions to Ukraine, according to RT. Victor Orban said that aid is not working and that Ukraine cannot win a war against Russia.
Ukraine Terror Attacks (attacks aimed at killing civilians) See Map.
Belgorod
The border regions suffered heavy shelling attacks on October 27th/28th though no casualties were reported. On the 31st, Novaya Tavolzhanka was attacked and on the first day of November, shelling caused damage to residential buildings, a factory and some cars in Shebekino. Two civilians received shrapnel wounds and later in the day two drones were shot down.
DPR
On the evening of the 27th October 60 shells were lobbed into the region but no casualties have been reported. On the evening of the 28th, the Ukrainians employed a Kamikaze drone to target a man’s car in the city of Yasynuvatsky. The man was killed instantly while his mother miraculously survived. On the 30th, four people were injured by shelling and on the 31st, 100 shells were lobbed into the region causing injury to one civilian. Later the same day, according to sitreports:
The AFU shelled residential neighbourhoods in the Budyonnovsky district of Donetsk with cluster munitions. After the first strikes, a large fire broke out. And after rescuers and an ambulance arrived at the scene, the enemy launched a second attack, which killed two civilians and wounded 12 people, including three journalists and two employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
One of the journalists who writes for Izvestia was taken to hospital with shrapnel wounds to the chest, according to Tass. Maria Zakharova condemned the ‘terrorist logic’ of the Ukraine regime in waiting for medics and journalists to arrive at the scene of the explosions before launching a second attack.
On the 1st November, a young woman was killed by shelling and another four were wounded and on the 2nd, 150 artillery rounds were launched into the region injuring another four civilians.
Kherson
Late on the 27th October Ukrainian artillery attacked civilian settlements in Nova Kakhovka, Kakhovka, Radensk, Korsunka, Podstepnoe, Krynki, Aleshki and Dnepryany. One civilian received serious injuries in Aleshki but I have no further information. Early on the 31st October, four people were injured and one killed by Ukrainian shelling in different districts of Kherson, according to Tass.
Kursk
On the morning of the 30th October the Ukrainians shelled the village of Gorodishche in the Rylsk. No casualties were reported. On the 31st, the village of Troitskoye was attacked and a water tower damaged but there were no casualties. At 11.30 pm (Moscow Time) the same day another two drones were intercepted by on duty air defences. On November 1st, Sverdlikovo suffered five attacks.
Bryansk
On the 31st October, according to Slavyangrad.
Ukrainian militants hit the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with mortars in the village of Belaya Berezka near Bryansk. Eyewitnesses reported about ten enemy shells fired at the region from the Sumy region.
Other border regions of Bryansk were also attacked causing damage to residential buildings and cars but there were no casualties. One drone was shot down on the 1st November and caused no damage.
Energodar Zaporizhzhe
On the 2nd November, the Ukrainians launched a massive attack on urban areas in Energodar with at least ten drones. There has been lots of damage to residential buildings and a shopping centre but fortunately there were no casualties.
Zaporizhzhe Nuclear Power Plant
The Ukrainians have been targeting the NPP for a long time but without success. On November 2nd, Sputnik reported that six ‘helicopter type’ drones were shot down above the plant.
The Sea War
Sevastopol - Crimea
Air defences shot down 36 ‘aircraft type’ drones over Crimea on the 28th October, according to Tass.
At 4 am (Moscow time) on the 30th October, two unmanned boats were destroyed in the Black Sea close to Sevastopol bay - according to Tass. According to one report one unmanned boat managed to escape. Two ‘air targets’ (could have been ATACMs) were also shot down over Sevastopol and the debris from one fell onto the grounds of a school injuring one person. Elsewhere, 8 Storm Shadow missiles were launched at targets in Crimea: all of which were shot down according to the Russian MoD - which is amazing, if true. However, according to the Military Chronicle, two ATACMs missiles did get through but caused no damage. This is the largest attack on Crimea since the 3rd/4th October. On the morning of October 31st more rockets were launched towards the western coast and Sevastopol. I have no news of damage or casualties.
On the morning of November 1st, eight Stormshadow missiles were launched from four Ukrainian SU24s towards the Crimean bridge. Five were shot down by air defences and two were disabled by electronic means falling into the Arabat Spit area. The other may have been lost somewhere in the Sea of Azov, according to Yuri Podolyaka. A later report by The Military Chronicle revealed that five Neptune missiles were also involved in the attack. Two were shot down near Strelkovoe (Arabat Spit) and three more were shot down near Sevastopol.
On the morning of November 2nd, six ‘aircraft like’ drones attacked Crimea. One was shot down over the Black Sea while the rest were shot down over the mainland.
The Air War
The Russians, through various means, are becoming increasingly successful at destroying Ukrainian aircraft, according to the Military Chronicle. Radar screens used to show at least 30 Ukrainian aircraft but this has now been reduced to about 7. There have been noticeably fewer strikes from air launched cruise missiles in consequence.
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks (See Map)
27th/28th October Overnight
Explosions were heard overnight at Kremenchug, Nikolaev and Kirovograd according to Slavyangrad. Dnipro was also attacked along with Krivoy Rog and Odessa (Izmail).
29th/30th Overnight
Geran-2 drones attacked a military airfield in Starokonstantinov, Khmelnitsky region overnight. Explosions also occurred in the Kyiv and Dnipro regions. Odessa was attacked yet again. According to one source:
During the night, Geranium UAVs and aviation worked on the enemy's facilities in the rear. Explosions were heard in Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy, near Kupyansk, in Vinnitsa and Khmelnitsky regions. Power outages were reported in the Darnitsky district of Kiev after the arrival.
The Russians also destroyed a large ammunition depot at Dubiyevka near Cherkassy, according to Tass.
30th/31st October Overnight
On the evening of the 30th October, according to sitreports:
The Russian Army has worked on large military and infrastructural objects of [Ukraine]. In Kiev, the "geraniums" visited the Darnitsky district, where the lights went out after the strikes. In Khmelnitsky region, strikes were carried out in the area of Starokonstantinov airfield. In Cherkassy region, an ammo depot near Dubiyevka was liquidated. In addition, Russian missiles flew near Odessa airport, and a ship repair yard.
(Thanks to Down South MoA)
Mirgorod airfield in Poltava was also attacked and Geraniums attacked targets in the Voznesensk area in Nikolaev. A production site for naval and and air borne drones was destroyed in Odessa.
31st October/1st November Overnight
According to Slavyangrad:
Explosions occurred in Dnepropetrovsk. It was also loud in Mirgorod, Nikolaev, and the Odessa region.
Kremenchug oil refinery (north west of Dnipro) was also attacked and set alight.
1st/2nd November Overnight
According to Rybar:
Russian Missiles and Geraniums again visited Poltava and Khmelnitsky regions, where the military airfields in Mirgorod and Starokonstantinov are located. In #Kremenchuk, on the other hand, ours worked on the Oil Refinery. In addition, explosions were reported in the Kiev, Cherkassy and Chernigov regions.
Dnipro was also attacked overnight according to Slavyangrad.
2nd/3rd November Overnight
Slavyangrad is reporting that on November 2nd Geraniums were seen flying towards Poltava, where the Klemenchug oil refinery and Myrhorod airfield are probably being targeted, and towards Nikolaev. Zatoka in Odessa was also attacked with Onyx missiles. Ukrainian sources are reporting explosions in the city of Kropyvnytskyi in Kirovograd overnight. Military airfields at Starokonstantinov in the Khmelnitsky region and Kanatovo in the Kirovograd region both came under attack. The Russians appear determined to eliminate Ukrainian airpower completely. Warehouses in five different locations in Kharkov were set alight. Kiev, Lvov and Rovno were all attacked with Iskander missiles and ‘Gerans’, according to Slavyangrad. Ammunition depots and energy infrastructure facilities have been attacked throughout the country according to the Two Majors. As a result of a massive attack, the territory of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security at the Yavorovsky training ground (near Lvov) was hit. Military personnel and an ammunition dump were hit.
Ukainian Missile/Drone Attacks
Kursk
A solitary drone was shot down over Kursk on October 27th according to the Russian MoD.
Oryol
On the evening of the 27th October, 4 drones were shot down over Oryol but caused no damage.
Tula
On the 27th October, 2 drones were shot down over Tula.
Krasnador
Ukrainian drones were launched at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnador, east of the Kerch Bridge. One drone caused a small fire which was quickly extinguished, according to Russian media.
Rostov
A single drone was eliminated by air defences over the Voroshilovsky district of Rostov on Don on the 29th October. No damage nor casualties were reported. Several more drones were shot down on the 2nd November.
The Ground War
The Return of Wagner
Many former employees of Wagner PMC are joining the Akhmat group of special forces in the SMO.
Russian MoD figures:
w/e 20th October: Casualties: 5830 killed and wounded (832 per day); equipment losses = 387 (includes 48 boats)
w/e 27th October: Casualties: 5585 killed and wounded (797 per day); equipment losses = 253
w/e 3rd November: Casualties 5435 killed and wounded (776 per day); equipment losses = 377 (includes 35 watercraft)
The Fronts
Avdeevka
Military expert Colonel Alexander Tikhansky, professor of The Academy of Military Sciences of the Russian Federation, believes that the Russians will try to block off the supply routes into the city so that the forces within will have no choice but to surrender within six weeks or so - according to Slavyangrad. When asked what tasks the Russian army will set itself in the near future, he suggested that it will probably form 10-12 offensive groups from reserves and bring them to battle in many different directions so that the Ukrainians will need to spread their own reserves thinly making some sections vulnerable to Russian breakthrough. According to the Military Chronicle, the city is under ‘operational encirclement’ and the main supply route from Orlovka is not being used.
Ukrainian soldiers are calling Avdeevka ‘hell on earth’ and much more intense than Bakhmut with a higher rate of Russian artillery fire and much more activity by Russia’s Aerospace forces. Few believe the city can be held. There are signs that the Ukrainians are short of air defence missiles, which are now being sent to Israel. However, these shortages are also a consequence of Russia’s repeated strikes on ammunition dumps over the summer. Russia has apparently been building up its supply of Cruise missiles ready for winter attacks. Yuri Podolyaka has reported that the Ukrainian headquarters within the city is being evacuated.
Some military commentators believe that Avdeevka is much more important, strategically, than Bakhmut. It’s capture could force the Ukrainians to retreat 40 miles west as far as Kurakhove, according to the Military Chronicle.
On the 29th October the gap through which the Ukrainians can bring supplies narrowed from 9 to 7 kilometres. The only supply road available to the Ukrainians is covered by Russian artillery. The same report in Slavyangrad confirms that the Ukrainians are already pulling people out of the city. A recent report in the Military Chronicle is worth quoting because it provides a good sense of the deteriorating situation for the Ukrainians by the end of the week:
There are at least 3-4 days left before the fall of the city, maximum 2 weeks. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are in a critical situation - the leadership of units is in chaos, huge losses, there is no ammunition, there are no reinforcements. Zelensky orders to defend the city to the last cartridge, and the military leadership on the ground is thinking about retreating to advantageous lines.
The Russians are attempting to capture the Coke and Chemical plant in the north of the city which could lead to a Ukrainian collapse. Resident provides a brief update of the crisis in Avdeevka here (dated November 3rd). This direction is crucial since its collapse will impact on Western funding decisions.
Kherson
The Ukrainians slightly expanded their bridgehead at Krynki this week but were then forced back by the Russians. At the time of writing they still occupy the centre of the village.
Artemovsk
On November 1st, Boris Rozhin described the situation here as stable. ‘Both sides are active with limited forces’, he said.
Ugledar
Here the Ukrainians have been pushed back but no Russian breakthrough has been achieved.
Vremevsky Ledge
At the Priyutnoye - Staromayorskoye line, ‘Russian units have been conducting a tactical offensive for several weeks, systematically advancing position by position’, according to Rybar.
Zaporizhzhe - Rabotino - Verbove
On the 30th October, the Ukrainians attempted another attack in the Rabotino area and were forced to retreat losing 10 IFVs and 4 armoured vehicles, according to Boris Rozhin.
Marinka
Dima reported significant Russian advances in the Marinka direction on the morning of the 29th October.
Kupyansk
The Ukrainians have been reinforcing the area around Krasno-Liman. They have also conducted some offensive operations with tanks and armoured vehicles with heavy losses but without success. The Russians are still making some progress in the Pervomaisky area as the autumn rains begin to fall limiting movement.
The Economic War
More Sanctions From the US
The US has expanded its sanctions package against Russia to embrace a further 37 individuals and 200 organisations. You can read more at Tass.
Germany
In a recent poll of 24,000 businesses, more than half considered investment in Germany to be risky due to the high cost of energy and raw materials. Low consumer demand is also a problem. Business experts believe that 2024 will see zero growth in Germany and the reluctance of companies to invest will make matters worse in the long term. Of course, sanctions against Russia, irrational green energy policies and the destruction of the Nord Streams have also contributed to Germany’s economic malaise.
Oil Prices Could Surge
The World banks has warned that the price of oil could increase by 56%-75% if the war in the middle east continues/intensifies - according to RT. That’s bad news for car owners and people who use oil for heating (as we do).
Uranium Prices Surge
The price of Uranium has increased to its highest level in 15 years, according to RT. The increased demand for nuclear power following the West’s decision to deny itself Russian energy is partially responsible along with the coup in Niger which used to be Europe’s second biggest supplier of Uranium.
World Politics
Germany
A new anti-war political party called 'For Reason and Justice’ (BSW) is being created in Germany and polls show that it is already attracting 14% of popular voting intentions. So, Germany may soon have two anti-war parties as the AfD continues to grow.
Hamas Thanks Zelensky
In a bizarre video, representatives from Hamas have thanked Zelensky and Ukraine for sending them weapons to drive the Israelis from their land. Their spokesman said that Zelensky shares the same cause as them. I have no way of knowing whether the video is from Hamas or whether the translation is accurate. But it’s an interesting piece of political theatre.
Vasily Nebenzya at the UN
Russia’s envoy at the UN has called out the hypocrisy of the US and its allies given its failure to condemn Israel’s apparent targeting of civilians. You can find out more here.
Malta
Representatives from 55 countries met in Malta on the 28th/29th October to create yet another peace formula. Qatar, India, South Africa and Turkiye were all be represented but China did not attend. As expected, the conference produced nothing but talk. Some are calling it the ‘Maltese failure’.4
The Emerging Multi-Polar World Order
The Xiangshan Security Forum - Shanghai 29th-31st October
This Forum, which was attended by representatives from a record 90 countries including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Turkiye Russia and China talked about security issues that concern those attending. The theme of this year’s was common security, lasting peace. You can read more here.
Maniac of the Week
And the prize goes to…Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican presidential candidate who said:
I want Israel to impale the heads of 100 Hamas leaders on stakes and line them up on the border with the Gaza Strip.
I think he may have forgotten that he is living in the 21st Century - he sounds more like Pompey the Great who, after Spartacus was defeated in 71 BC, lined up hundreds of his crucified followers along the Appian Way leading to Rome.
Correction
Last week I repeated a report that there were 4 US carriers in the Med. Apparently, there were only two.
That’s it for this week: a week that has made many of us frustrated and angry. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes and kind comments.
A bill providing $14.3 billions of aid to Israel was passed by congress on the 2nd November. However, the bill, which provides no aid to Ukraine, may not get past the Senate - according to Zero Hedge.
Andrii Borysovych Yermak
Here’s Scott talking with Garland Nixon and making the point that the Ukrainian forces are weakening as the Russians continue to stretch them (1hr).
With reference to the film The Maltese Falcon.
Cheers Lantern Dude - hope someone else will respond. I should say that I've amended the Update because I'd missed the Russian MoD clobber lists. They have been much the same for about four weeks at least.
Nice one as usual Rob. Well we're still here and nominally no more censored than usual. Palestinian flag anyone? I was just going to 'like' the article, but it's not often I get to be first ;o) in 'comments'.