SEVASTOPOL, November 11 (RIA Novosti) - A flu epidemic has forced Ukraine's naval command to discharge contract sailors with the fall recruitment campaign suspended, a source in the ex-Soviet state's Navy said on Wednesday.
The number of deaths in Ukraine from flu viruses has climbed to 213, the country's Health Ministry reported earlier in the day.
"Our vessels are facing a large [crew] deficit. Due to the lack of sailors, we are unable to carry out ...combat duty," the source said.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that contract naval officers had been discharged ahead of time and that no recruitment was currently underway. The ministry did not disclose when new crews would be drafted.
According to the latest figures, 70 cases of the A/H1N1 swine flu have been confirmed with 17 resulting in deaths in the country.
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