Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

A Ukrainian young boy wears a protective mask against flu during as he looks at the Ukraine Premier League soccer match Dynamo Kiev's and Lvov's Karpaty at Lobanovsky's stadium in Kyiv on Oct. 31. Dynamo Kiev will face FC Internazionale Milano during thei Inter Milan will be looking to climb off the bottom of its group when it visits Dynamo Kiev in the Champions league on Wednesday in a game overshadowed by a swine flu outbreak in Ukraine.

Winless Inter is last in Group F with three points from as many draws, but just a point behind the rest of the field at four points — defending champion Barcelona, Dynamo and Russia's newcomer to the competition, Rubin Kazan.

Inter beat Livorno 2-0 on Sunday to go seven points clear at the top of the Serie A standings.

"I hope we win in Ukraine as it would be important for morale," Inter manager Jose Mourinho said. "It will be a difficult match, but we have to face it head on, believing in our strength, even though we don't have a full team."

Dynamo held Inter to a 2-2 draw in Milan two weeks ago.

Concerns over swine flu in Ukraine have dominated preparations for the match in Kiev.

The health ministry of Ukraine reported on Monday that 70 people in the nation of 40 million had died from flu and respiratory illnesses, although it was unclear how many of these were related to swine flu.

The Cabinet has banned mass gatherings, but UEFA said the game will go ahead. Sports Minister Yuriy Pavlenko said Monday that face masks could be handed out to spectators, or in the worst-case scenario the game could take place without fans.

Four Inter Milan players are expected to miss the match.

Sulley Muntari was carried off on Sunday against Livorno after receiving a kick to his leg and has heavy bruising. Thiago Motta has a pulled muscle. Wesley Sneijder missed the Livorno game with a leg injury and Mario Balotelli has the flu.

"The team is doing pretty well, but like everyone we have to deal with injuries," Mourinho said. "There are some physical problems that are slowing our work down. Inter doesn't have problems with its mentality, but we are suffering physically from playing too much."

Dynamo played a disappointing 1-1 draw with Karpaty last weekend.

"We could have come away from Milan with a victory," midfielder Oleh Husev said. "But at least now we know that we can play with Inter. The situation in the group means that we need a victory."

First-choice goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is expected to miss the game with a stomach muscle injury. Midfielder Ayila Yussuf has a thigh injury and defender Pape Diakhate is struggling with a knee injury.

Dynamo Kiev will be led by striker Andriy Shevchenko, who has experience of eliminating Inter in the Champions league. While playing at AC Milan, he scored a goal in the semifinals in 2003 on the way to the title.